Delays in food aid delivery being resolved, WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) in Swaziland was unable to distribute a full food basket to each of its 152,000 beneficiaries in April and May. In its latest situation report on the regional food crisis, WFP noted that "Swaziland has experienced pipeline problems during April and May and as a result, most implementing partners [who distribute on behalf of WFP] were only supplied with cereals in May." There was "only 570 mt of [maize] cereals" available for May distributions to beneficiaries, enough to cover just 31 percent of monthly requirements - a shortfall of 1,250 mt. "In addition, vegetable oil is not in stock and is only due to arrive in June," the WFP report added. WFP resident coordinator in Swaziland, Sarah Laughton, told IRIN on Monday: "The main impact has been that we have not been able to give a full food basket in distributions this month, which of course we would like to do". She explained that WFP fed 152,000 beneficiaries each month from April to June. Each beneficiary would normally receive a full food basket consisting of cereals, pulses (such as beans), oil and corn/soya blend (CSB). "That whole ration adds up to just over 16 kg per person per month of the different commodities in total," Laughton said. As in many Southern African countries, maize is a staple food in Swaziland and an important component of the WFP food basket given to beneficiaries. "We're just aware that, nutritionally speaking, people need a range of commodities, especially in situations where you have people who are ill, and a lot of people in this country are. We have been able to continue providing CSB, which is a fortified food and is very good for children and people who are ill," she added. Jennifer Abrahamson, WFP spokesman in Johannesburg, South Africa, explained that the shortages the agency was experiencing in Swaziland were due to a number of factors. "Essentially, the problem was that there was a quality check delay [of the maize] and that problem should be resolved soon. In terms of the vegetable oil, we have experienced a shortfall region-wide. Donations have come in but there's that lag period between when a donation is made and when the food arrives. But it is coming in now and should continue coming in," she said. Swaziland is among six southern African countries experiencing food shortages due to a combination of factors such as drought and the impact of HIV/AIDS.