News

Snapshots From 2011

Published on 19 December 2011

From conflict in Libya to the drought in the Horn of Africa, 2011 presented a challenging sequence of emergencies to WFP and other aid agencies. Here are 12 photos that look back on a year in WFP's fight against hunger.

WFP/Roslyn Ratliff	Cote d'Ivoire January This family was among thousands that fled Cote d'Ivoire after post-election violence broke out. Many, like this one, took refuge in neighbouring Liberia, where they received food assistance from WFP in our first major operation of the year. Find out more Tweet
WFP/Challiss McDonough	Afghanistan February Balqisa stands in front of the food shop that she can now actually enter thanks to the WFP food voucher she is holding. Until now, she had to beg for food for herself and her family. Food vouchers are now a key component of WFP's assistance toolbox. Find out more Tweet
WFP/Yuko Yasuda	Japan March When a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami struck Japan in the spring, WFP logistics experts helped speed relief supplies and mobile warehouses to some 350,000 people forced from their homes. Find out more Tweet
WFP/Abeer Etefa	Libya April A convoy of trucks crosses the Egyptian border into Libya, carrying emergency food rations for families in areas cut off by this year's conflict. WFP assisted over 1.1 million people in Libya 2011, as well as many who fled to Tunisia and Egypt. Watch video Tweet
WFP/Rebecca Richards	Somalia July Desperate to escape drought and famine in the south, many Somalis – including these two women -- fled their homes in search of food and security. WFP head Josette Sheeran went to Mogadishu to see the situation for herself. Find out more Tweet
WFP/Rose Ogola	Kenya July A group of Somali refugees come to the end of their 2-week trek through the desert to escape drought and famine. During the summer, around 1,200 people were arriving every day in the Dadaab refugee camp in eastern Kenya. Watch video diary Tweet
WFP/Amor Almagro	Sudan August Haythum Siddiq, on the left, wants to be a doctor when he grows up. The meals he receives at his school in Darfur, are helping him pursue that goal. WFP provides more than 20 million children around the world with school meals every year. Read story Tweet
WFP/Siegfried Modola & Hundubey Ahmed	Somalia July-August On the left, the 18-month old Sadak Hassan Abdi photographed just after his long journey to escape famine in Somalia. He is severely malnourished. On the right, Sadak five weeks later, after receiving hospital treatment and nutritious Plumpy'Sup from WFP. Read story Tweet
WFP/Amjad Jamal	Pakistan August Pakistan was hit by disastrous flooding for the second year-running. WFP reached nearly 3 million flood-affected people in Sindh and Balochistan with monthly food rations, including a new product called Wawa Mum, which protects children from malnutrition. Watch video Tweet
WFP/Hetze Tosta	Honduras October A flood victim in Honduras describes the scale of the flooding in her village to a WFP staffer who has brought food relief. WFP responded to flooding emergencies in four Central American countries at the same time in October. View photo gallery Tweet
WFP/Polly Egerton	Cambodia November This woman and her child were among the 150,000 people who received emergency food assistance from WFP after the worst floods in a decade hit Cambodia, forcing thousands of people from their homes. Watch video Tweet
WFP/Phil Behan	Niger December This farmer in Niger finished harvesting early this year. Because of the drought, a harvest which ought to have lasted families through the Spring will only provide enough food for two or three months this year. Learn more Tweet