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Hunger Hotspots

Facts, figures and the latest updates from WFP's high-profile emergencies.
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4 November 2008

Sri Lanka

The fourth WFP food convoy to the Vanni, including 30 WFP trucks carrying approximately 450 tons of mixed commodities (rice, wheat flour, lentils, CSB, sugar and vegetable oil) will be dispatched to locations with high concentration of IDPs. Due to heavy rains more than 50,000 people were affected as flood water rose to four feet in some areas. More than 10,000 people were sheltered in community centers and camps. The Trincomalee Area Office deployed two teams to the area to conduct a rapid assessment and started the distribution of food to the worst affected areas. Flood waters started to recede during the week.

4 November 2008

Sudan

WFP’s cooperating partner, CORDAID, plans to take over supplementary feeding activities in Adilla, South Darfur, following the withdrawal of MSF from the area after completion of their activities. WFP and CORDAID plan to further discuss the programme pending the results of a nutrition assessment conducted by UNICEF in the area. Massive flooding continued to severely affect populations in different parts of South Sudan. Findings of inter-agency assessments indicated that 44,000 people were affected in Maban, Upper Nile; 3,400 in Bor, Jonglei; 2,000 in Akuakngap, Northern Bahr El Ghazal; 1,500 in the Lakes and; 400 returnees in Aweil North. WFP continues to provide food assistance to populations in accessible locations, as most roads are cut off by heavy rains. WFP distributed one-month rations totalling 73 mt of food to 4,500 of the worst-affected in Maban, Upper Nile. Plans are underway to provide food assistance to affected populations in accessible locations in Lakes state in November. Furthermore, WFP is taking part in a joint response to assist those affected in Jonglei state.

4 November 2008

Zimbabwe

As of 24 October 2008, nearly 4 million people were registered (all categories, eligible for food assistance or not) under the Vulnerable Group Feeding Programme (VGF). Registrations and verifications are still ongoing; however, it is evident that the number of people eligible for assistance and confirmed to be in the worst categories (1 and 2) is higher than initially anticipated. As of 24 October 2008, over 800,000 people had received food aid under VGF. The target is to scale up distributions each week in October 2008 to reach a total of 1.8 million beneficiaries by the end of the month. Based on the May CFSAM result, a total of 1.2 million mt of commodities needs to be imported this year to cover the needs of the population. Presently, approximately 435,000 mt have been imported; 175,000 mt by GoZ and 260,000 mt have been resourced by the international community. The estimated cereal deficit in the country is 800,000 mt.