WFP in talks with govt to help cover food pipeline shortages

The World Food Programme (WFP) has asked the Swazi government to help cover shortages in its food pipeline for 150,000 beneficiaries.

Sarah Laughton, WFP's emergency coordinator in Swaziland, told IRIN on Monday that the food agency was in talks with the authorities and hoped the crisis would be resolved this week.

About 217,000 beneficiaries receive a monthly food ration from WFP and the Swazi government. "Out of the 217,000, WFP, through its emergency operations (EMOP), takes care of 150,000, while the remaining 60,000 are looked after by the Swazi government," explained Laughton.

Since the beginning of January, a shortfall in donor funding has affected the level of WFP's assistance to its 150,000 beneficiaries. Laughton said the government had enough food stocks to assist.

The WFP began a new EMOP in mid-2003 to feed 132,000 Swazis in immediate need. The food relief agency is believed to have provided assistance to some 158,000 people from August through to December last year but erratic rainfall has now extended the country's food security crisis into a third year.

According to a recent WFP emergency report, approximately 65 percent of beneficiaries would receive only half-rations of maize unless additional resources were identified. A further 35 percent of beneficiaries would only receive pulses, vegetable oil and corn-soya blend.

Laughton said full rations for school feeding, pregnant women, clinics, and orphan care programmes remained unaffected by the pipeline shortages.