Feeding to continue despite shortfall, WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) in Angola is expected to continue with its feeding programme in November, despite an expected shortfall in cereals. The UN food agency on Thursday said the cereal deficit was mainly due to delayed or damaged international maize shipments. "Feeding under social and nutritional programmes will continue to receive priority, and full rations will be maintained," WFP said. The maize shortages are, however, expected to affect refugees returning to Uige, Zaire, Moxico and Kuando Kubango provinces, who will receive half-rations of cereals. WFP noted that the November distribution would be carried out at the end of the month and, in some cases, would be combined with the December distribution. Meanwhile, security concerns in northern Bengo province have forced WFP to suspend its operations. "Following several security incidents on the road to Sungui, and in Sungui refugee resettlement area, and the lack of implementation of several key security measures promised by the provincial government, OCHA, WFP and Intersos, [a local NGO,] have decided jointly to suspend their operation, and travel to Sungui, until security measures are reinforced by the government," WFP said. The agency also highlighted food security problems in the central Huambo province, mainly due to the lack of seeds and a poor agricultural harvest during the last season. In the eastern Moxico province, local authorities had reported acute humanitarian needs and deaths due to the lack of food, WFP said. In response, the agency was participating in a rapid needs assessment in the areas where the food security situation had deteriorated.