Food aid needs in Sudan to reach $851 million for 2009
December 17, 2008 (ROME) — The World Food Programme today appealed for US$5.2 billion for urgent hunger needs beginning at the start of 2009, $851 million of which will be allocated to Sudan, the costliest of all operations.
“World leaders need to be confronted with the values implicit in the policy choices they are making,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, speaking from New Delhi. “The world is poised to produce trillions for financial rescue packages. What will they produce for the human rescue?”
The WFP operations in Sudan will benefit 5.95 million people, predicted the organisation.
Darfur is currently the largest humanitarian emergency operation in the world and represents more than 70 percent of WFP’s budgeted activities in Sudan. Of Darfur’s estimated population of 6 million people, more than half are directly or indirectly affected by the conflict.
Other major operations will occur in Ethiopia, benefiting 8.67 million people, and in Somalia, benefiting another 2.58 million.
According to the aid agency, its work in Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia could be jeopardised without new funding by the middle of the year.
Sheeran said that with a mere 1 percent of what has been tabled for financial rescue packages and stimulus packages in the United States and Europe, developed countries could fully fund the work of the World Food Programme, and make a mark toward meeting other urgent hunger needs, for example feeding all 59 million hungry school children worldwide ($3 billion per year) and the establishment of a reserve fund for fast acquisition of food stocks for emergencies.
Funds are also needed globally to boost the agricultural production of small-holder farmers who have seen the price of seeds and fertilizers more than double since 2006.
(ST)