EC aid injection for WFP programmes

The European Commission (EC) has donated US $60 million to the World Food Programme (WFP's) emergency response to the Southern Africa food crisis, the UN agency said on Friday. "This huge donation has thrown a lifeline to millions of hungry people," Judith Lewis, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa said in a statement. "Our food supplies risked dwindling to dangerously low levels at the worst possible time." Household food stocks across large parts of the region will diminish even faster during the 'hunger gap', or lean season, which traditionally starts in December and continues until the onset of the main harvest in April. Over the coming months, millions more people will exhaust their food reserves from this year's harvest. WFP has been urging donors for a rapid response to its US $507 million appeal to feed 10.2 million people in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. The agency has been warning that its resources will begin to run dry in December, just as needs in the region will reach peak levels. "The European Union's contribution to the countries hardest hit by the food crisis – mainly Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe – is extremely important at this fragile time for Southern Africa," said ambassador Michael Lake, head of the EC delegation in South Africa. "The crisis, particularly in Zambia, is imminent and decisions have to be taken quickly if that country is to avoid a disastrous situation in the next few weeks and months. We are therefore pleased to announce this further donation, to be administered through the WFP." Millions are suffering the devastating effects of poor harvests, chronic poverty and the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Government mismanagement and economic deterioration have worsened an already poor humanitarian situation, pushing much of the region into the throes of an expanding hunger crisis, the WFP statement said. "The European Union has provided essential hard cash that will help us buy food regionally and move food into families' homes quickly and efficiently, which is key to saving lives. In short, this generous gift will help us avert a potential catastrophe," Lewis added. Half of the EC money will be used to purchase food for hungry families in Zimbabwe. WFP will be targeting nearly 4 million hungry men, women and children in that country. With this donation, the EC (excluding unilateral donations made by individual member states) is now the second largest donor to WFP's Southern Africa emergency operation, following the United States with US $106.5 million. Other new donations that will help stave off the hunger crisis include contributions of US $2 million from Oman, more than US $530,000 from Switzerland, US $50,000 from South Korea, US $49,000 from Andorra and US $20,000 from Singapore.