WFP seeks $5.7m to feed school children and struggling farmers

The World Food Programme (WFP) appealed on Tuesday for US$5.7 million to feed school children and farmers rebuilding irrigation and drainage systems in Guinea-Bissau. Abdou Dieng, the head of WFP in Guinea-Bissau told IRIN that donors had so far only contributed $1.2 million towards the 15-month programme, which aims to provide food aid to 238,000 of the country’s 1.3 million population. “WFP’s relief and rehabilitation activities in Guinea-Bissau are jeopardized if no further donor contribution is received,” Dieng told IRIN by telephone from the capital Bissau. WFP launched its appeal for food aid following parliamentary elections on March 28, which marked a key stage in Guinea-Bissau’s return to democracy following a bloodless coup in September last year. The PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde) emerged as the winner, but fell just short of an absolute majority. The party, which led Guinea-Bissau to independence from Portugal in 1973, said it would form a broad-based coalition government with the other main parties. WFP’s food aid programme is aimed at helping the country to recover following a brief but devastating civil war from 1998-1999 which was followed by three years of chaotic rule by deposed president Kumba Yala. The programme, which is due to get under way in June, will focus mainly on food-for-work projects to help farmers repair drainage ditches and irrigation systems and school-feeding schemes. Food support will also be given to pregnant women, new mothers and children under the age of five. Some will go to people living with HIV/AIDS and demobilized soldiers. Dieng said that to date contributions had been received from Japan, Sweden and Portugal. The WFP programme will focus on the north and east of Guinea-Bissau, a country where poverty and malnutrition are widespread. The country ranks 166 out of 175 in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index. According to WFP, only 36 percent of the total available land is being cultivated due to lack of expertise and damaged drainage and irrigation systems. Guinea-Bissau once exported rice, but is now a big importer. Its main source of foreign exchange is cashew nut exports. Education is another major area of concern. The school system virtually collapsed under former president Yala, who left the country’s teachers unpaid for more than a year. Classes were interrupted by repeated and prolonged strikes. Pupils have been unable to complete their courses and take end of year exams at state schools for the past two years. WFP aims to provide 92,000 children with school meals. It plans to distribute 8,622 tonnes of food aid, including 4,644 tonnes of rice and, 2,465 tonnes of protein-rich corn soya blend and 1,115 tonnes of vegetable oil.