UN appeals urgently for food for Burundi, where number of hungry has doubled

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) issued an urgent appeal today for more food donations for Burundi, where the number of people in need of relief has doubled to more than one million due to drought and lack of security.

"We are doing everything possible to respond to heightened food needs over the last couple of months, but we simply do not have enough resources to tackle the full magnitude of this crisis," said Mustapha Darboe, WFP's Country Director in Burundi. "Although we have received major donations from the US Government, and the European Commission, further contributions from other donors are urgently required. The bottom line is that the number of hungry people has doubled and we don't have enough food."

Donations received so far can provide assistance for four more weeks, WPF said, meaning immediate pledges of 16,000 tons of cereals, pulses and vegetable oil are urgently needed to feed 1.2 million vulnerable people until the end of June. The required food aid is valued at $9 million.

Noting that the number of people estimated to be in need of relief food during the first six months of this year has doubled in comparison with the same period in 2002, a recent government and UN inter-agency Food and Crop Yields Assessment report also found a decline in the nutritional situation of the population, with a marked increase in the number of children admitted to therapeutic feeding centres in Ruyigi, Ngozi and Kayanza provinces.

Late rains in October and an early end to rains in January have led to significantly reduced harvests throughout the country. Insecurity is further exacerbating the situation, leading to the displacement of people with loss of life and income, particularly in eastern and southern Burundi, the report said.

Although a peace agreement was signed with the Government and rebel forces in December, the recent resumption of serious fighting has greatly compromised the provision of humanitarian assistance to drought-affected populations, while displacing more people also in need of aid. During the first half of February, at least 54,000 people were unable to receive relief food due to insecurity.