WFP Executive Director Visits the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
KINSHASA – The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, arrived today in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a four-day mission, amid a continuing deterioration of the country’s humanitarian situation.
Mr. Beasley will assess the impact of conflict on food and nutrition security, and the efforts of WFP and other agencies to tackle persistent – and emerging – hunger.
On Saturday he will meet conflict-displaced families in the south-central Greater Kasai region, where more than three million people – one-quarter of the population – are severely food insecure in the wake of the eruption of violence in mid-2016.
On Sunday, in North Kivu province, Beasley will witness a food distribution for the long-term displaced and visit a centre providing nutritional support to women and children.
On Monday, following his return to Kinshasa, Beasley will exchange views with members of the government, senior UN officials, and representatives of the donor community.
Journalists will have the opportunity to interview Mr. Beasley.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org
Gerald Bourke, WFP/Johannesburg (Mobile in Kinshasa: +27-829-081417)
Jane Howard, WFP/Rome, Tel. +39 06 65132321, Mob. +39 346 7600521
Steve Taravella, WFP/New York, Tel. +1-646-556-6909, Mob. +1-202-770-5993
Bettina Luescher, WFP/Geneva, Tel. +41 22 917 8564, Mob. + 41-79-842-8057
Francis Mwanza, WFP/London, Tel. +44 20 72409001, Mob. +44 7968 008474
