WFP STARTS FOOD AIRLIFT TO CHILDREN IN EASTERN DRC, AMID FEARS OF FUNDING CRISIS KINSHASA - The United Nations World Food Programme said today that it has recently started airlifting urgent food aid to at least 8,800 needy people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, although it has not yet received any funding pledges for next year’s operations.
WFP HAILS EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR EUROS 5 MILLION FOR KENYA DROUGHT NAIROBI – The United Nations World Food Programme today hailed the European Commission for donating Euros 5.05 million (US$5.98 million) in cash to help provide food aid for 3.5 million people in northern and eastern Kenya, saying this was the sort of quick, flexible response needed as the drought worsens.
THOUSANDS OF LEBANESE HEADING HOME FROM SYRIA GET WFP FOOD PARCELS DAMASCUS - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today that to facilitate the mass return of Lebanese who had taken refuge in Syria, it has been providing bread and biscuits to the thousands of people heading over the border back into Lebanon.
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY? SHARP RATION CUTS LEAVE DARFUR ON A DIET KHARTOUM – Despite the horrific suffering of millions of vulnerable people across Sudan, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today that a severe shortage of funds has forced it to make drastic cuts in food rations from May.
WFP WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF JOSETTE SHEERAN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROME – After full consultation with the World Food Programme Executive Board at a special session attended by all its 36 members and most other member states, the President of the Board, Ambassador Mirza Qamar Beg of Pakistan, announced that the UN Secretary-General and FAO Director-General intend to appoint Josette Sheeran
WFP URGES SOMALI LEADERS, MILITIAS TO PROTECT AID AGENCIES AFTER SHOOTING NAIROBI – Following a fatal shooting at a food distribution in southern Somalia, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) appealed today to leaders and militias throughout Somalia to provide access and protection to humanitarian agencies to enable them to respond to a worsening drought emergency.
WFP WARNS OF GROWING DESTITUTION AMONG PALESTINIANS JERUSALEM - From next month, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will increase the number of people it feeds in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) by 25 percent from 480,000 to 600,000 non-refugees, in response to an escalating humanitarian crisis.
UN LEADERS URGE NEW EFFORT TO END SUFFERING OF MILLIONS IN AFRICA’S GREAT LAKES REGION BUJUMBURA – The heads of three of the largest United Nations humanitarian agencies today urged the international community to match political progress in the Great Lakes region with a new commitment to end the suffering of the millions of people forgotten by the rest of the world.