The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday welcomed a donation of â,¬30-million euros from the European Commission (EC) for its food-assistance projects in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia.
The donation forms part of the EC’s â,¬105-million donation to the WFP for its operations worldwide in 2006.
“The EC has long been a pillar of support to WFP and this generous contribution is well timed for the people of the region who need help most,” said acting Regional Director for WFP in Southern Africa Thomas Yanga.
“For example, Zimbabwe’s high inflation rate makes it increasingly difficult for the poorest to buy any food at all, even when it is available on the market. Many people have already sold everything they have,” Yanga added.
An amount of â,¬25-million had gone towards maintaining urgent food assistance over the next quarter to 800Â 000 of the most-vulnerable people in Zimbabwe, including children threatened with malnourishment and patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy, the WFP said.
An amount of â,¬3-million had been allocated to the purchase of cereals and protein-rich pulses for distribution in Malawi, where pronounced protein deficiency was a common problem among children, the humanitarian organization said.
And â,¬2-million has been earmarked to help finance nutritional support projects for the chronically ill as well as educational support activities for vulnerable children and their families in Zambia, the WFP said. — I-Net Bridge