Food aid needs ‘critical’ in East and Central Africa – UN agency

The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today called for assistance for millions of poor, hungry and displaced persons in East and Central Africa who he said are facing a cutback in funding precisely when their needs are the greatest.

Speaking during a visit to the WFP’s regional office in Kampala, Executive Director James Morris said: “People in this part of the world have been the victim of brutal conflicts which have killed their loved ones, destroyed their homes and belongings, and left them totally destitute. Food production has been slashed, as displaced populations are prevented from tending their fields. Their main chance for survival is help from the international community.

"Donors have responded to the needs of these countries, but the timing is critical. A lack of funds has forced us to reduce food rations in some areas, precisely when the levels of malnutrition are dramatically high. I'm urging donors to continue their support to the victims of such tragedies."

WFP’s East and Central Africa region covers 11 countries: Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, of which seven are affected by long-standing conflict.

Fighting and drought are the main causes of severe food shortages in these countries, according to WFP. More than half of the 40 million people facing large-scale hunger in Africa are concentrated in these 11 countries.

During 2003, more than 2.8 million tons of food, worth $1.5 billion, are required to meet the region's food aid needs, the agency said. According to WFP, an estimated 4 million displaced people have left their homes and another 1.1 million are refugees in East and Central Africa. The agency said the numbers are likely to increase given the poor conditions in several countries.

Mr. Morris said food aid interventions would go beyond an emergency response, and be aimed at rebuilding communities, bolstering the local economies and assisting in agricultural development.