WFP cites food requirements

WFP, in its latest monthly update for the month of August, has cited major food requirements for four countries in the Great Lakes region where drought has threatened food security. Tanzania: WFP said an assessment in June indicated likely food shortages in 32 districts of 10 regions across Tanzania some of which were experiencing crop failures for fourth year. Traditional coping mechanisms were almost exhausted. It said the areas most affected were Arusha, Shinyanga, Dodoma, Singida, Morogoro, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Mwanza, Mara and Coast.

The government was conducting rapid assessments to determine the number of households in need and the most appropriate intervention. WFP said it was expecting the government to make a fresh appeal. Rwanda: WFP drought assistance was continuing in Kibungo, Gitarama and Kigali Rural where 5,892 mt of food relief was distributed between January-August to 74,869 drought-affected households, making up a total of 374,345 people. Uganda: It said the Karamoja region continued to face drought-related food shortages, which were compounded by insecurity in the area.

WFP said it had been assisting 160,000 people since March, to whom 7,065 mt of food had been distributed so far, against a target of 9,069 mt. New donor contributions were needed. It said that a rapid assessment it had carried out with the government and NGOs had found an increasing number of some 270,000 people in need of relief. The incoming harvest in September was expected to be poor, and relief was likely to be needed until March next year. The agency said it was preparing to increase its drought-relief operations in Uganda.

Burundi: WFP said more than 110,000 people had received 623 mt of food. They were mainly in the Muyinga and Kirundo drought zones, but some had settled in Bujumbura Rural. It said insecurity continued in Cankuzo, Ruyigi, Bubanza, Bujumbura Rural, Makamba, Rutana and Karusi provinces and Bujumbura town. For the full report, see: http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/1c292ebb87392c278525694d00655c1e?OpenDocument