Despite Iraq, food crisis still on WFP's agenda

The World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday said it remained committed to feeding some 40 million people across Africa, allaying concerns that the ongoing war in Iraq may distract from the food crisis on the continent.

This week WFP launched its highest ever appeal for emergency food aid in response to the Iraq crisis. The US $1.3 billion operation could evolve into the largest in the history of humanitarian assistance.

But WFP Executive Director James Morris told reporters in London that while "Iraq was needy, the humanitarian crisis in Africa was extraordinary" and re-committed the UN food agency to providing food aid to the continent.

Some 12.4 million people in Eritrea and Ethiopia face food shortages and WFP has warned that without further donations, operations in the two East African countries would have to be halted in April and June respectively.

About 15.1 million people across Southern Africa need food aid to survive. Drought, flooding, HIV/AIDS and government policy have combined to cause the region's worst food crisis in recent years.

WFP's spokeswoman Jennifer Abrahamson told IRIN: "We have not seen a flagging of interest from the donor community toward the crisis in Southern Africa. Of course, one cannot tell what will happen in the future but at this stage there has not been an exodus of funds from the region. WFP, however, is committed to meeting the massive needs of millions of people in this part of the world."

Abrahamson added that food aid destined for Southern Africa would not be diverted to Iraq.