¡¡UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The UN World Food Program announced a plan to purchase 1.3 million US dollar worth of olive oil from 2,600 selected Palestinian farmers, hoping it can help ease their social and economic hardship, a UN spokesman said here Wednesday.

    "The World Food Program, in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, will purchase 416 metric tons of olive oil from 2,600 selected poor Palestinian farmers," Spokesman Fred Eckhard told a press briefing in New York.

    The UN food agency will deliver the olive oil to WFP beneficiaries living in Gaza and the West Bank. "These people havelimited access to olive oil, due to its high cost and unavailability in markets," Eckhard said.

    By purchasing the oil directly from the farmers, the agency is able to assist the most vulnerable people in the Palestinian Territories, while at the same time help the West Bank's local economy, the spokesman said.

    Curfews and border closures, including restrictions on road access and movement in the West Bank, have had a serious impact onthe economy of the Territories. Farmers often face difficulties tending their olive groves and selling the oil produced, accordingto the UN food agency. Enditem