Swedish donation helps Angolan refugees

The Swedish government has given WFP a donation of US $1 million which will enable it to continue food rations for Angolan refugees in Namibia until the end of the year, WFP said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We are most grateful for this timely donation,” said Ronald Sibanda, WFP Country Director (Angola) who oversees WFP’s emergency operation for Namibia. “The food pipeline and rations in Osire will be secured for the remainder of 2001 with this funding and we will be able to continue our important work in Namibia. “

WFP said the donation meant that it could “quickly” buy food in the region to bridge the gap in food supplies which had been hampering the distribution of sufficient rations for the 20,000 refugees in Osire. It said the food rations would return to the minimum standard of 2,100 kilocalories of energy per day, and that the supplementary feeding program for malnourished people would continue. WFP added that a local salt producer, Walvis Bay Salt Refiners, had donated 6 mt of iodised salt for the refugees at Osire.