BUDGET SHORTFALL THREATENS UN’S ABILITY TO FEED MILLIONS WORLDWIDE

Millions of hungry people around the world will not receive food aid from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) due to a "dangerous and unprecedented" $3 billion budget shortfall this year, the head of the agency has warned.

WFP is hoping to reach 108 million people in 74 countries this year with food aid, but it expects to receive only $3.7 billion of the $6.7 billion needed for 2009.

"We are actively cutting $3 billion of our programme – which means a reduction in rations and programmes throughout the world, including those to the world's most vulnerable people," WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran told reporters yesterday in Washington, ahead of meetings at the White House.

In Bangladesh, for example, the agency sought to feed 5 million people this year, but must now cut back to reaching only 1.4 million, with a school feeding programme only feeding 70,000 children out of the original target of 300,000.

Ms. Sheeran welcomed the recent $20 billion pledge to boost global food security made by the so-called Group of Eight (G8) nations, which shows the industrialized world "takes the food security issue seriously."

But she cautioned that "we must also keep pace with growing emergency needs. The problem is not all about agricultural yields; the challenge is people cannot get access to food – whether because of poor infrastructure or because they can't afford it."

The food crisis is still raging in the developing world, where high food prices are exacerbated by the impact of the current financial crisis, WFP said.

Data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that in most developing countries, food prices are higher today than they were one year ago, at the height of the food crisis.

The WFP head was in the United States capital to urge policy-makers to keep urgent hunger needs as a high priority as they find long-term solutions to food security.

She also called for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) gathering in Pittsburgh, United States, to "take action not only on the financial crisis, but on hunger."
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FOOD AID REACHED 280,000 PEOPLE UPROOTED IN POST-CONFLICT SRI LANKA – UN

FOOD AID REACHED 280,000 PEOPLE UPROOTED IN POST-CONFLICT SRI LANKA – UN
New York, Jun 8 2009 6:00PM
Basic food supplies were distributed to around 280,000 people last month following the end of the conflict between Government forces and rebels in north-east Sri Lanka, the United Nations humanitarian wing announced today.

Over 2,200 megatons of food was dispersed, with supplemental food – particularly a corn soya blend – being delivered to underweight young children, as well as to pregnant and lactating women, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA).

For its part, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">UNHCR) and other agencies providing shelter have built 6,500 emergency structures and over 13,000 tents to date, with more being erected as land is cleared.

OCHA reported that water and sanitation has been a huge challenge, but progress is being made, with half of the latrines needed in place and water currently being provided for 75 per cent of overall drinking and bathing needs.

As of 5 June, 40 per cent of the $155 million needed for the 2009 Common Humanitarian Action Plan for Sri Lanka has been received, and an additional $28 million pledged.

Last month, Sri Lanka's Government declared that its military operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was over, ending more than two decades of fighting.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week repeated his appeal to the South Asian island nation's Government to heed international calls for accountability and transparency, and for an inquiry into alleged abuses committed during the recently concluded conflict with Tamil rebels.

"It is crucially important that the Sri Lankan Government follow up on all the promises that they have made," Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1296">told reporters following an informal discussion with Security Council members on Sri Lanka.

"Whenever and wherever there are credible allegations of violations of humanitarian law, there should be a proper investigation," he said, adding that any inquiry must be supported by UN Member States and be "very impartial and objective."

The Secretary-General also stressed that it was time to unite, and warned against "the risk of triumphalism in the wake of victory," as this will hinder ongoing efforts by the Sri Lankan Government and people, and the international community, to help heal the wounds inflicted during the long-running conflict.
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FUNDS NEEDED TO REACH 2.6 MILLION DISPLACED PAKISTANIS WITH FOOD AID, SAYS UN

FUNDS NEEDED TO REACH 2.6 MILLION DISPLACED PAKISTANIS WITH FOOD AID, SAYS UN
New York, Jun 3 2009 3:00PM
Without the contribution of urgently-needed funds, the United Nations and its partners will only be able to feed the 2.6 million Pakistanis forced to flee clashes between the Government and militants for the next month or two, it was announced today.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA), the world body has less than half of the $280 million sought to meet the food needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Pakistan.

In addition, the $543 million Humanitarian Action Plan launched late last month is only 22 per cent funded.

OCHA also warned that current stocks of essential drugs will run out by the end of this month. There is already a shortage of hygiene kits and soap in all camps housing some 200,000 of the uprooted, it added.

The World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/hac/crises/pak/releases/3june2009/en/index.html">WHO) said today that the portion of the Action Plan dedicated to health needs is only 11 per cent funded.

There is a high risk of communicable disease outbreaks due to overcrowding, contaminated water, poor sanitation and inadequate health care provision, among other factors, WHO said, cautioning that a funding shortfall will impede abilities to detect and contain outbreaks.
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