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1 October 2013

Global Hunger Down, But Millions Still Chronically Hungry

Some 842 million people, or roughly one in eight, suffered from chronic hunger in 2011-13, not getting enough food to lead active and healthy lives according to a report released by the UN food agencies. The number is down from 868 million reported for the 2010-12 period, according to the State of Food Insecurity in the World, published every year by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The vast majority of hungry people live in developing regions, while 15.7 million live in developed countries. Read more

24 September 2013

US Ships More Wheat For WFP Emergency Operations To Feed Syrians In Need

“The generous US contribution to WFP emergency’s operation for Syrians affected by the conflict comes at a critical time, as needs are increasing yet we are facing real challenges in raising money to keep up,” Read more

23 September 2013

FAO And WFP Appeal For Immediate Support For Northern Mali

BAMAKO - An Emergency Food Security Assessment conducted jointly by the Government of Mali, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and 15 other partners shows that three out of four households living in northern regions of the country are food insecure and heavily reliant on food assistance. Read more

17 September 2013

Syrian Refugees Begin Using WFP Vouchers To Buy Food At Zaatari Camp

“Zaatari camp is becoming less of a camp and more like a city. We want to ensure that refugees have access to shops near them and to a variety of food products. By involving Jordanian community organisations to set up the shops and ensuring supplies are sourced from local traders, the voucher system also helps to support the towns and villages around the camp and boost the local economy.” Read more

WFP Emergency Coordinator in Jordan, Jonathan Campbell

12 September 2013

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator And World Food Programme Executive Director Call For More Support For Yemen

“WFP is providing life-saving food assistance to almost 5 million Yemenis to break the intergenerational cycle of hunger. We will continue this vital food assistance by improving food security and nutrition but at the same time helping build resilience of these communities".Read more

WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin

3 September 2013

WFP Appeals For More Access To People In Need Inside Syria As Refugees Hit The Two Million Mark

As the number of Syrian refugees reaches the two million mark, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) appealed today for humanitarian access inside Syria to avoid a situation in which hunger becomes an additional factor pushing more people to flee the country. In August, the UN food agency was only able to dispatch food for 2.4 million people -- short of its goal of feeding three million people a month -- as a result of the deteriorating security situation. Read more

3 September 2013

Hunger Looms As Zimbabwe Faces Highest Levels Of Food Insecurity In Years

“Many districts, particularly in the south, harvested very little and people are already trying to stretch out their dwindling food stocks. WFP is working closely with the Government and partners to respond to the looming food crisis and will start food and cash distributions to the most vulnerable in October.” Read more

Country Director Sory Ouane

30 August 2013

UNHCR AND WFP Chiefs Wrap Up Iraq Visit, Praise Open Border Policy For Syrian Refugees In Kurdistan Region

“We are here for the people. We will be here for as long as the Government of the Kurdistan region continues to support us and as long as the people of Syria need us.” Read more

WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin

27 August 2013

Humanitarian Airlift Carrying Relief Items For Syrian Refugees Fleeing To Iraq Arrives In Erbil

“We are grateful for the generosity of the local authorities of the Kurdistan Regional Government who provided the Syrian refugees with hot meals in the initial days, when they arrived in northern Iraq. WFP has now mobilized enough food to meet most of the urgent food needs of Syrian refugees in camps and transit centres in northern Iraq.” Read more

WFP’s acting Country Director in Iraq, Ute Meir

19 August 2013

On World Humanitarian Day, WFP Honours Work Of Colleagues On Frontlines Of Hunger

This World Humanitarian Day (19 August), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) family remembers seven colleagues who lost their lives in the past year while endeavouring to help those in need in South Sudan, Sudan, Rwanda and Afghanistan. We and their loved ones will remember them for their bravery in the face of danger, their passion for the fight against hunger and their dedication to helping others before themselves. Read more.

WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin