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Hunger Hotspots

Facts, figures and the latest updates from WFP's high-profile emergencies.
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Responding to Emergencies
18 June 2009

Afghanistan

On 2 June, the Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock and FAO jointly projected a bumper wheat harvest for 2009, which is 63 percent higher than last year’s. Wheat harvest this year will be record high for the past 32 years if the projection proves to be accurate. The expected bumper wheat harvest is mainly because of good rains; other factors are a 20 percent increase in farmland devoted to wheat as a result of last year’s high food prices and the provision of seeds and fertilisers to farmers. However, the overall cereal deficit is estimated at about 200,000 mt out of a total cereal requirement of about 6.5 million mt. Through its purchase for progress (P4P) programme, WFP has a plan to procure some tonnage from the surplus areas. WFP continues to provide emergency food assistance to flood-affected families in the North, West and East regions. Emergency food distribution (EFD) is ongoing to over 74,000 people to meet their immediate needs for one month. Furthermore, WFP has taken part in flood assessments and is planning to establish recovery food-for-work (FFW) projects to repair flood-damaged feeder roads and irrigation canals.
Responding to Emergencies
5 June 2009

Sri Lanka

WFP is providing full rations to over 290,000 people accommodated in temporary transit camps in the North and East of the country. This is in addition to an earlier caseload of 183,000 IDPs, who are also being assisted by WFP ahead of their imminent return and resettlement.
Responding to Emergencies
5 June 2009

Somalia

WFP and its partners are currently implementing a Blanket Supplementary Feeding programme in the central regions of Mudug and Galgadud targeting 88,600 children, 50 percent of the number of children aged of 6 - 59 months in these regions with malnutrition rates above the emergency threshold. 
Responding to Emergencies
5 June 2009

Kenya

The current rainy season continues to be poor in WFP’s main operational areas, i.e. pastoral districts in the North and marginal agricultural districts in the Southeast and coast areas. As a result, food insecurity is worsening and is not likely to improve, especially among farmers, before the next harvest in February 2010.  The Kenya Food Security Steering Group is monitoring the situation closely, and is preparing to conduct the seasonal assessment in July.
Responding to Emergencies
5 June 2009

Afghanistan

WFP continues to provide emergency food assistance to the families affected by the floods in the north, west and east regions. To date, over 56,000 beneficiaries have received over 1,000 mt of WFP emergency food assistance to meet their immediate needs for one month. Flood affected provinces include Balkh, Jawzjan, Samangan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Takhar, Jalalabad and Hirat. Furthermore, WFP has taken part in joint flood assessments and planning to establish recovery food-for-work projects to repair flood-damaged roads and irrigation canals.
28 May 2009

Afghanistan

WFP continues to provide emergency food assistance to floods affected families in the northern and western regions. To date, over 26,000 beneficiaries have received WFP emergency food assistance to meet their immediate food needs for one month. Flood affected provinces include Balkh, Jawzjan, Samangan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Takhar and Hirat provinces. Furthermore, WFP has taken part in provincial government-led joint assessments and planning to establish recovery food-for-work projects to repair flood-damaged roads and irrigation canals.
4 May 2009

Kenya

Despite new resource commitments, the refugee operation is still implementing ration cuts of 19% for the 1 May distribution cycle given the lead-time of procurement, and the fact that there are not enough food stocks in the country now to allow full ration distributions. 
4 May 2009

Ethiopia

A serious malnutrition situation is emerging in Siraro, Shashemane, Shala, Arsi Negelle and Adaba woredas in West Arsi zone in Oromiya with admissions to feeding centers increasing rapidly (over ,000 children in one week’s time). Screening by the regional health bureau with support from UNICEF is ongoing. Relief food including blanket blended food has been dispatched to over 68,000 beneficiaries. Review of the nutrition situation in east and west Hararghe of Oromiya by a joint WFP/UNICEF team is planned for this week.
4 May 2009

Chad

As the rainy season is approaching, WFP is making efforts to preposition over 2,000 mt of food commodities in the Daha area to feed the newly arrived CAR refugees during the six- month rainy season. Due to the lack of available resources, the country office is planning to borrow food destined for Sudanese refugees from the emergency operation (EMOP). During the rainy season, road accessibility to the refugee camps and IDP sites in eastern and southern Chad becomes impassable due to the rains.
4 May 2009

Afghanistan

Heavy rainfall and floods have affected hundred of families in many parts of the country. The joint assessment conducted by Afghan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) and UN agencies recommended that food and non-food assistance are required for 800 affected families in the Ghorian district of Hirat, Nahre Shahi and Chimatal districts of Balkh provinces. WFP has dispatched nearly 100 mt of emergency food for these families to cover their immediate food needs for one month.