Qatar has donated $10 million to the United Nations World Food Programme's (WFP) emergency operation in Gaza.

This contribution is part of a $40 million donation from the government of Qatar to a number of UN agencies providing relief assistance to conflict-affected populations in Gaza.

“This vital contribution will help provide assistance to the most vulnerable in Gaza and support WFP’s innovative programmes there,” said Daly Belgasmi, WFP’s regional director for the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

The government of Qatar is providing this donation through the non-governmental Qatar Charity organisation.

The funds will be used to provide urgently needed food assistance to 365,000 civilians in Gaza, - including 50,000 schoolchildren in some 85 schools - with items such as wheat flour, cooking oil, sugar and high energy biscuits.

WFP is also planning to start a food voucher operation in Gaza. This will enable thousands of Palestinians to access food directly from small- and medium-sized traders in Gaza. The project will improve people’s access to food; while at the same time providing a financial stimulus to the local economy.

The recent conflict in Gaza has created new vulnerable groups - families which were previously self-reliant are now completely dependent on assistance having lost their entire savings, homes and productive assets during the conflict.

WFP is providing food assistance to 80 per cent of the non-refugee population in the Gaza Strip. The year-long relief operation there is now almost 70 per cent funded; total funding requirements are $82.3 million.

Qatar Charity has humanitarian and development activities in more than 40 countries around the world.-TradeArabia News Service