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News Releases

Official statements announcing key developments in WFP operations and activities.
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3 October 2004

WFP and UNICEF launch emergency appeals to help over 600,000 women and children in Namibia

Johannesburg - WFP and UN Children\'s Fund (UNICEF) launch emergency appeals totalling US$5.8 million to help more than 600,000 orphans, vulnerable children and women in Namibia, who are suffering from the combined effects of erratic weather, severe poverty and the worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic.

30 September 2004

WFP sends world's biggest cargo plane with aid for Haitian flood victims

Rome - A giant Antonov-124 cargo plane took off from the United Nations Humanitarian Depot in Brindisi today carrying 100 metric tons of High Energy Biscuits provided by WFP for the thousands of victims of last week\'s devastating floods in northwest Haiti. The flight is expected to arrive in Port au Prince on Friday.

28 September 2004

Almost two million drought-affected people will need relief food in Lesotho, Malawi and Swaziland

Johannesburg WFP launches an appeal for US$78 million to provide emergency aid to 1.85 million people in the first half of 2005 in three drought-affected southern African states Lesotho, Malawi and Swaziland.

28 September 2004

Survey shows high prevalence of food insecurity in Iraq

WFP announces the results of an unprecedented survey in Iraq which concludes that some 6.5 million people 25 percent of the entire population remain highly dependent on food rations and are therefore vulnerable.

27 September 2004

WFP appoints Mahmoud Yassin as Ambassador against hunger

Dubai- WFP has appointed Mahmoud Yassin, one of the best-known Egyptian and Arab film stars of all time, as an "Ambassador against Hunger" to help raise awareness of the plight of the more than 800 million hungry people around the world.

27 September 2004

WFP supporting local farmers cooperative by purchasing maize from Manica

Maputo For the first time in its ongoing emergency operation in Mozambique, WFP has purchased 100 tons of maize from a Mozambican farmer\'s cooperative in Manica province. The maize will be used as food aid in the districts of Tambara, Guro and Macossa, where WFP is assisting vulnerable people suffering from the second year of drought.

23 September 2004

55,000 hit by drought in Bolivia's El Chaco region

La Paz, Bolivia Some 55,000 people are being severely affected by a prolonged drought in El Chaco region with serious damages to crops, affecting drinking water availability and the health situation in the region, one of the driest areas of the country comprising 16 municipalities in the Departments of Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca and Tarija.

22 September 2004

WFP relief convoy reaches flooded Haitian city of Gonaives

Port au Prince - WFP sends the first humanitarian convoy to the Haitian city of Gonaives, which was engulfed over the weekend by devastating floods that left hundreds of people dead and thousands more in desperate need of food assistance.

19 September 2004

Flood-affected children and women face risk of malnutrition

Dhaka Over one million Bangladeshi children will face the risk of acute malnutrition in the following months if immediate actions are not taken during post-flood rehabilitation efforts.

16 September 2004

Afghan food production hit by drought and pests: poor face rising food prices

Rome Afghanistan\'s agriculture has suffered widespread crop failure caused by below average rains as well as plant and animal diseases, according to a joint report issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WFP. More than six million Afghans will need food and non-food assistance in the coming year.