HIV/AIDS AGGRAVATES CHRONIC HUNGER DESPITE BETTER HARVESTS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA JOHANNESBURG – The United Nations World Food Programme warned today that despite better harvests across southern Africa, more than three million people would remain short of food because of chronic vulnerability caused by grinding poverty and the world’s highest rates of HIV/AIDS.
VIOLENCE ALONG CHAD/SUDAN BORDER THREATENS THOUSANDS N’DJAMENA – The United Nations World Food Programme warned today that an escalation of the violence that has forced thousands of people from their homes along the Chadian border with Sudan’s Darfur region could seriously impede humanitarian assistance. WFP currently feeds 207,400 Sudanese refugees housed in 12 camps inside Chad.
KENYA RAINS LOWER NUMBER NEEDING FOOD AID TO NEARLY 3 MILLION PEOPLE NAIROBI - Rains have reduced the number of Kenyans in need of food aid because of drought to nearly 3 million people from 3.5 million, the Government of Kenya and United Nations World Food Programme said today. WFP needs US$44 million to continue feeding them for six months.
CHAD: RISING TENSIONS RENDER FOOD OUTLOOK PRECARIOUS N’DJAMENA – Amid rising tensions and reported preparations for armed attacks in Chad, the United Nations World Food Programme warned today – election day – that food is becoming a serious issue for some 70,000 people who have either fled the continuous armed incursions in the east of the country or are resident there.