Iraqis displaced by the war with ISIS are desperate for food. The United States Food for Peace program has come through again to help these war victims.
Food for Peace, run by the U.S. Agency for International Development, has just donated $ US 41 million to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Iraq. The WFP, the lead hunger relief agency, will distribute the Food for Peace donations.
Jane Pearce, the WFP country director in Iraq, says “I am delighted that the United States remains committed to working with WFP to deliver food assistance to Iraq’s most vulnerable populations. This generous and timely contribution from USAID’s FFP will help mitigate the suffering of many, as humanitarian needs outpace available resources.”
The donations will allow WFP to feed more than one million Iraqis for two and half months. Food vouchers and emergency rations will also be provided.
WFP relies on voluntary donations and Food for Peace is their largest source. Food for Peace, started by President Dwight Eisenhower, has fed billions since 1954. The program was started in order to send U.S. surplus food overseas to feed the hungry.
However, cuts to Food for Peace funding have been proposed in the latest presidential budget. This move is seen as a disaster by relief agencies and advocates as food aid is crucial with the record number of refugees around the world.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Author William Lambers 