The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is demanding that armed groups in Syria allow humanitarian access to civilians.
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Tag Archives: World Food Programme
Malawi determined to build home-grown school feeding
Malawi is a country in Africa that has suffered recently through massive flooding. Over a million people were affected according to the United Nations World Food Progamme (WFP).
This is a country that was struggling with poverty even before the floods. The people have little material resources to cope with such a disaster.
Just recently the WFP director, Ertharin Cousin, visited Malawi to see how the agency’s relief programs are helping. One of the biggest WFP relief programs is school feeding.
Over 800,000 children in Malawi receive WFP school feeding in over 700 schools. A grant from the US McGovern-Dole program is the largest donor making this possible.
Part of this WFP initiative is called Home-Grown School Feeding. This is where the food for the school meals are provided entirely by local farmers. Cousin visited the Ching’ombe Primary School which is taking part in the home-grown effort. WFP spokesperson Kaitlin Hodge says,
This school has been part of the pilot phase of this programme, supported by the Purchase from Africans for Africa (PAA) programme, which is funded by Brazil and UK aid, and by the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA).”
By the end of April almost 80,000 students in Malawi are expected to receive the home-grown school meals. About 6000 farmers in Malawi are supplying the meals.
Ultimately you want all school feeding in a developing country to be provided by local farmers. That way the economy benefits and it’s a source of supply that can continue.
Getting the home-grown effort off the ground is the key. Small farmers need that initial support so they can start supplying the food. That is where donors are crucial. WFP relies entirely on voluntary donations.
The home-grown school feeding effort is a step toward a national school lunch program. It’s a step toward food self-sufficiency for a nation, which is the road to ending world hunger.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Easter Day column in the Cleveland Plain Dealer
This Easter, spending on candy, gifts, clothing and food is expected to pass $16 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Even the Easter Bunny would say, “Wow!”
See my full column at the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Filed under global hunger
Yemen: hunger emergency grows with conflict
As Yemen descends further into war, a hunger crisis is also escalating. The United Nations reports that food is “scarce” in the conflict zones in southern Yemen.
Read the article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Ukraine: low funding threatens mission
The United Nations warns that its humanitarian mission in the Ukraine is in serious jeopardy due to lack of funds. The year long conflict between the government and pro-Russian rebels has caused massive displacement and disruption of basic services for civilians.
Read the article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
WFP director appeals to donors to save Syria
The director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Ertharin Cousin, is attending a donor conference in Kuwait with one objective: to save the starving people of Syria. WFP is leading hunger relief in the war-torn country, but depends on voluntary donations.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Future being made now for Syria’s children
On Tuesday a conference will be held in Kuwait to raise funds to feed the starving people of Syria. This crucial donor meeting can draw a little inspiration from history.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
WFP officer says world must stand by Syria
Dina El-Kassaby of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) will never give up on Syria. Traveling inside the war-torn country, El-Kassaby is trying to bring the world the stories of Syrians, who might otherwise be forgotten.
WFP/Rein Skullerud
The WFP officer recently penned an essay on the desperation felt by Syrians, who have now suffered through 4 years of civil war. She also published a story featuring the lives of 12 Syrians affected by the conflict.
WFP is leading the hunger relief mission, feeding almost seven million Syrians. This includes refugees in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq.
It’s one of the largest humanitarian operations since World War II. It’s one of the most dangerous. The support of the international community is vital to sustain this relief, until peace can ensue.
El-Kassaby’s plea to help Syria has been quoted in the New York Times and on the History News Network. You can read her full article at the World Food Program USA.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Syrians under siege are blocked from humanitarian aid
The United Nations reports that humanitarian aid cannot reach 212,000 Syrians who are living under siege. The situation for these war victims is becoming more desperate each day.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Cyclone Pam causes a food crisis
Cyclone Pam has caused major damage to food supplies in Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific.
Read the full update at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Author William Lambers 