WFP Plans Huge Cuts To Operations In Zambia As Funds Run Out

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is preparing to
cut the vital food aid rations it currently provides to around 500,000
of the most vulnerable people in Zambia over the coming weeks - because
of a critical shortage of funds.



"WFP's resources are rapidly running out. In March or April we will be
forced to stop distributing food to some of the most disadvantaged
people in Zambia - such as orphans and patients undergoing treatment for
AIDS," said David Stevenson, WFP's Country Director in Zambia.



"Tens of thousands of Zambians are now much healthier and more
productive thanks to our food aid but without continued assistance,
their lives and livelihoods will once again be put at risk," Stevenson
added.



WFP needs US$29 million to fund its operations across Zambia until the
end of 2007. But with food stocks dwindling, WFP has already begun
reducing some rations and is planning for a series of massive cuts to
its aid operations.



This is happening at a time when widespread flooding across Zambia
threatens to increase the number of people in need of food assistance.
While the government has not launched a formal flood appeal, the
Vice-President has asked humanitarian agencies to try to assist affected
populations under their existing programmes.



A vulnerability assessment mission is currently underway to ascertain
the extent of the flooding in the worst-affected areas in the East, West
and Northwest and give a clearer picture of the number of people
affected and in need of assistance.



"WFP is committed to helping Zambians hit by natural disasters but our
resources cannot cover our current programmes let alone the increased
demand from flood victims," said Stevenson. "Obviously the widespread
flooding across the region is further stretching donor funds and
assistance for the needy is crucial."



Without new contributions, WFP will stop distributing nutritious daily
meals in schools to over 100,000 orphans and vulnerable children in
March, undermining attempts to keep them in school and jeopardizing
their nutritional health. At the same time, WFP will cease providing
food to 130,000 people in food-insecure households headed by children,
widows or grandparents as well as 28,000 households enrolled in
livelihood support activities.



In addition, WFP will halt critical food assistance in April to 6,000
HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and their family
members as well as 9,500 chronically ill people receiving home-based
care, many of whom are also on ART. Surveys in Zambia indicate that food
aid has increased adherence by up to 40 percent and significantly
improved the health of food-insecure ART patients - all of whom will be
threatened by WFP's cuts.



"It is staggering that essential food aid for people infected and
affected by HIV/AIDS might have to be cut just when so much is being
done by the Zambian government and others in the fight against the
pandemic," said Stevenson. "With extra funds, WFP can continue to
support thousands of ART patients - giving them and their families a
chance of a healthier and brighter future."



WFP is encouraging cash donations to source food from Zambia and within
the region.







WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: each year, we give food
to an average of 90 million poor people to meet their nutritional needs,
including 56 million hungry children, in at least 80 of the world's
poorest countries.



For further information please go to:
World Food Program WFP - We Feed People