ROME, 4 July 2008: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is expanding operations to reach 4,6 million people in Ethiopia with emergency food assistance, in response to the governments urgent appeal for food and nutrition assistance to avoid hunger-related deaths in coming months.
– Ethiopia is facing a perfect storm with soaring food prices and a devastating drought, said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, adding: – We hear the governments plea, support it, and are moving to reach all we can.
Deputy Prime Minister Addisu Legesse told parliament earlier this week that the government needs an additional 430 million US dollar to address food shortages (se også telegrammet www.u-landsnyt.dk/indhold.asp?ID=15201&mode=Nyhed)
WFP is now providing emergency food assistance to 3,2 million people in Ethiopia. In the coming months, WFP will scale up but at the same time it urgently needs additional contributions to reach all those in need.
WFP has a shortfall of 369.000 metric tons of food valued at 300 million dollar from July through December and also needs to repay 31,7 million dollar in internal advances.
WFP, further, plans to provide food assistance for 2,4 million people living in drought-affected areas under the development-oriented Productive Safety Net Programme.
WFP will support the Ethiopian government in supplying emergency nutritional support to 750.000 of the most vulnerable, including children, pregnant mothers and HIV-AIDs patients. WFP supports UNICEFs urgent action to provide therapeutic feeding to 75.000 severely malnourished children.
The government in Addis Ababa estimates that about one-third of the funds necessary to manage the unfolding crisis have been received.
– The government of Ethiopia has been building innovative safety nets to ensure the most vulnerable are receiving targeted help. But these programmes are now overwhelmed. We aim to help the government scale up quickly, WFP-boss Sheeran said.
Ethiopia is one of five countries in the Horn of Africa hit by the double calamity of soaring prices and extended drought. Countries such as Somalia also suffer from conflict and instability, further exacerbating the urgent crisis.
SOMALIA – Drought, conflict, hyperinflation, rising food and fuel prices and poor harvests have pushed about 2,6 million people into needing food assistance. WFP is targeting 2,4 million. The number in need is expected to rise to 3,5 million by December.
KENYA – WFP is feeding 900.000 people in arid areas because of below normal rains in the North and Northwest. Kenya faces a food deficit this year because post-election violence disrupted production.
UGANDA – In Karamoja, the poorest region of the country, WFP has provided food since March for 707.000 people because of drought. Delayed, erratic and limited rains mean up to 90 percent of people have not planted for the current growing season.
DJIBOUTI – During the lean season from June to September, WFP plans to increase the number being targeted with food assistance from 80.000 to 115.000 people because of drought or conflict.
WFP on WFP
WFP is the worlds largest humanitarian agency: this year, WFP plans to feed more than 70 million people in 80 countries.
Yderligere oplysninger hos Mikael Bjerrum, WFP/Copenhagen, Tel.: 35 46 71 30, mobil: 40 11 38 83, e-mail: [email protected]
World Food Programme
Midtermolen 3
DK-2100 Copenhagen
Tel.: 0045 35 46 71 34
Mobile: 0045 20 16 88 55
Fax: 0045 35 46 71 33
Man kan læse mere om WFP på henholdsvis www.wfp.dk og www.wfp.org
