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24 March 2008
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WFP Launches $500 Million Appeal to Avoid Rationing Food Aid
24/03/2008
The World Food Programme (WFP)has launched an "extraordinary emergency appeal" to address the critical funding gap in its programmes created by soaring food and fuel prices.
The head of WFP, Josette Sheeran, says it needs an additional $500 million in the next four weeks to avoid rationing food aid.
"It is extraordinary because we've never quite had the situation where the aggressive rise in food prices keeps pricing our operations out of our reach. As you know we've sent out this letter and the letter addresses the gap caused simply between what we budgeted for the programmes and the increase in cost of food and fuel since then."
WFP says that, despite efforts to reduce its costs by buying locally, it is now paying 55 percent more for food than it was last June.
The food agency has urged governments to be as generous as possible in helping to close the gap which stood at $500 million a month ago on February 25th and has been growing daily.
The head of WFP, Josette Sheeran, says it needs an additional $500 million in the next four weeks to avoid rationing food aid.
"It is extraordinary because we've never quite had the situation where the aggressive rise in food prices keeps pricing our operations out of our reach. As you know we've sent out this letter and the letter addresses the gap caused simply between what we budgeted for the programmes and the increase in cost of food and fuel since then."
WFP says that, despite efforts to reduce its costs by buying locally, it is now paying 55 percent more for food than it was last June.
The food agency has urged governments to be as generous as possible in helping to close the gap which stood at $500 million a month ago on February 25th and has been growing daily.