World Vision to cut food aid programs in 17 African countries
In a statement it sent to WIC today, World Vision said it is being forced to make deep cuts in its food aid programs in 17 countries of Africa due to dramatic hikes in global food prices coupled with increased food demand and shrinking global food stocks.
As a result, over 1.3 million children (out of a total two million people) are unlikely to be reached with food aid that is critical for sustaining their health if not survival.
Due to the deepening impact of this crisis on countries across Africa, World Vision has begun to curtail its food aid programs and rations in Uganda (up to 60 percent), Northern and Southern Sudan, and Burundi, the statement said, adding that reductions in other countries are expected to follow.
To mitigate this crisis, World Vision is calling on governments and other donors to fund a shortfall of over 700 million USD in contributions to the World Food Program (WFP), the statement said.
According to the statement, unmet pledges by donors to increase food aid to Africa have directly contributed to an expected 27.5 percent decrease in the numbers of Africans who World Vision will be able to support with food aid this year.
“While finding sustainable solution to the crisis, food and agricultural recovery support should be given to the most affected vulnerable people,” said Humanitarian Emergency Affairs Director with World Vision Ethiopia, Shimelis Abate.
In this regard, World Vision Ethiopia strongly urges humanitarian sector, governments and the international community to work together to ensure that the prevention of child hunger and malnutrition is the top priority in the search for solutions to the current food pricing crisis.
