Food needs for war displaced "remain critical"

WFP has reported receiving an additional donor pledge of 10,000 mt of maize towards its Ethiopian emergency operation to assist populations displaced by the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The total cereal commitment to the operation has now reached some 20,510 mt, or 56 percent of the required 45,350 mt, its latest emergency report stated. WFP said that with a shortfall of over 16,000 mt, current supplies would cover requirements only until the end of September, and that the need to secure additional resources remained critical. A WFP official told IRIN on Thursday that the US, Japan and the Netherlands had pledged US $11.5 million of the US $24.3 million appeal.