WFP seeks funds for food security in Tigray region
The UN World Food Programme urgently needs US$170 million to meet critical food and nutrition needs in Ethiopia’s conflict-torn Tigray region.
JOHANNESBURG, March 24 (ANA) – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun providing emergency food assistance to vulnerable people in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
However, the organisation urgently needs US$170 million to meet critical food and nutrition needs over the next six months and to be able to cover any sudden increase.
In a statement on Wednesday, WFP said the government estimated that 4.5 million people would need emergency food assistance until late this year and had asked the WFP to support 1.4 million of them.
The outbreak of armed conflict in Tigray last November coincided with the peak harvest period. Employment and incomes were lost, markets were disrupted, food prices rose and access to cash and fuel became very difficult, according to WFP.
“In addition to the needs of local communities, we face a major challenge to support hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people whose tales of hardship and suffering are harrowing and heart-breaking,” said WFP representative and country director Steven Were Omamo after visiting east, central and north-west Tigray.
“The steadfast resilience of the people of Tigray is truly extraordinary. The government and partners are providing life-saving food and nutrition support to many, but much more is required to ensure food and nutrition security for these vulnerable people.”
Omamo said the situation was challenging, but it was important to recognise that humanitarian assistance can be delivered to large parts of the region.
“Right now, though, WFP and other humanitarian agencies lack the resources to respond quickly and in full. We urge the international community to support our collective effort to save lives and livelihoods across Tigray. Not a moment can be lost,” said Omamo.
In addition to delivering emergency food assistance in Tigray, WFP has started providing nutrition support for up to 875,000 vulnerable pregnant or breast-feeding women as well as children in the region over the next six months.
WFP is also providing transport and logistics support to the government and its partners to deliver humanitarian assistance both to and within the Tigray region.
They are also providing monthly food rations to 35,000 Eritrean refugees living in the Adi Harush and Mai Ayni refugee camps in Tigray.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher