World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), is today (21 July) travelling to Somalia to view WFP’s ongoing operations to feed vulnerable and hungry people affected by severe drought and conflict. Sheeran will return to Nairobi, Kenya this evening.
 

The drought afflicting the Horn of Africa region has left millions at the mercy of hunger, threatening the livelihoods of farmers and pastoralists, and putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of children at risk.  Protecting the brains and bodies of young children, and pregnant and lactating women through special nutritional food is our top priority.

WFP Spokesman, David Orr, on his return from Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya this week: “I met Somali women and children who had walked for weeks to reach the safety of refugee camps in Kenya. 

From mega-emergencies, such as the earthquake in Haiti or the floods in Pakistan, to headline-grabbing humanitarian crises, such as the conflicts in Cote d’Ivoire or Libya, the international community has stepped up to help those impacted by disaster and tragedy over the last few years. 

Desperate hunger is looming across the Horn of Africa and threatening the lives of millions who are struggling to survive in the face of rising food prices and conflict. 

DADAAB – The heads of three United Nations agencies today expressed deep concern about the living conditions of more than 314,000 Somali refugees during a visit to three camps in Dadaab in northeastern Kenya.  More refugees are arriving daily, crowding more people into one of the largest refugee concentrations in the world.

The number of hungry people in the Horn of Africa is growing and WFP aims to assist 5.2 million people as drought, rising food and fuel prices and conflict take their toll.  More and more people need help in the Horn and we’re now on high alert over the impact of the March to May long rains.

Rome – Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), will make a five-day visit to Kenya to attend high-level UN meetings and visit three camps at Dadaab in northeastern Kenya with 320,000 mostly Somali refugees.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has donated vehicles and equipment valued at US$409,000 to enhance the government of Kenya's capacity to combat climate change.

NAIROBI – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today €7.5 million ($US11.3 million) from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) would be used to address high levels of malnutrition among children, pregnant and nursing mothers in Kenya’s arid North.