World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

The south eastern region of Madagascar is prone to cyclones and floods which can have real impact on people's livelihoods and their ability to feed themselves. Thanks to donations from Brazil and Spain, a World Food Programme initiative has been able to help communities become more resilient to such shocks. One beneficiary of the project, Jean Berthin, tells of the difference it has made in his life.

The eastern region of Madagascar is regularly hit by cyclones and flooding, causing damage to crops and agricultural infrastructure. When this happens, livelihoods and food insecurity are placed at risk. This is where WFP’s food-for-assets initiatives come in – they help communities get back on their feet and be better prepared for future shocks. 

On 15 May, German Ambassador Ulrich Hochschild and French Ambassador François Goldblatt visited number of different projects in southern Madagascar.

Around the world, WFP's school meals programme helps improve students’ performance in class and reduce their drop-out rate. But underfunding has led to cutbacks in Madagascar. This is the story of their impact on two of the island’s children.

TSIVORY, Madagascar – For years, the “Hery Mitambatra” farmers association in southern Madagascar has struggled to sell its surplus maize harvest. But in 2012, the 150 members sold their grain to the World Food Programme (WFP) at a fair price, thanks to a new collaboration.

The Japanese Government has allocated US$ 2 million to purchase 2,000mt of food, which has now arrived in Madagascar and will be distributed through food-for-work activities in cyclone affected eastern and southeastern regions.  

Three months have passed since cyclones hit the eastern and the southeastern regions of Madagascar. WFP is helping  the most affected communities to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

The National Office for Natural Disaster Preparedness (BNGRC) estimates that as many as 259,000 people were affected when Cyclone Giovanna hit Madagascar in mid-February. This is the story of one of those people and of how WFP prepared for the cyclone season. 

As a member of a farmers’ cooperative in drought-prone southern Madagascar, Armand Barijaona Ramamonjisoa sold his maize surplus to WFP, a course which improved his family’s livelihood.

Communications are an essential part of any humanitarian aid operation, but keeping the lines open can be a tough job, says telecoms specialist Mark Phillips. He and his team have recently finished setting up radio repeaters around drought-plagued Madagascar, a challenging task even under the best of conditions.