WFP to commit US $20m for feeding east and central Africa

The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) says it is committing US $20 million to buy food for those who are most at risk from food insecurity in east and central Africa. The food will go to all 12 countries in the region, including Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. On Tuesday, WFP Executive Director James Morris met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during his visit to WFP’s regional operations, whose headquarters are in Kampala. Addressing a news conference the same day, he said the talks had been fruitful. Referring to the conflict in northern Uganda, which has displaced some 1.2 million people according to WFP figures, Morris said: “My appeal is specifically to the donor community. My hope is that the world will put enormous pressure on both sides to this conflict to find another way.” “Uganda has done a good job with HIV/AIDS and with economic growth, but on the other hand there's a big conflict. My plea is that he [Museveni] will do something about it,” he added. “Armed conflict is the most serious issue in this region,” Morris said. “When people are engaged in conflict and normal agricultural and economic activity ceases, it is always the most vulnerable – the women and children – who suffer worst from malnutrition and starvation.” WFP estimates that some 40 million people are facing severe hunger in east and central Africa – a region which makes up 35 percent of the total global number of people fed by the UN agency.