World Food Programme helps in Libya, Japan
March 22, 2011 | 05:56 PM
By JERRY HAGSTROM
The United Nations World Food Programme has stepped up provision of food to hungry people crossing Libya’s borders and is helping deliver relief to victims of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis.
The agency, based in Rome, said in a news release today that it has moved more than 1,500 metric tons of food into eastern Libya and pre-positioned more than 6,000 metric tons of food in emergency supplies.
WFP said it is concerned about access to food inside Libya, citing reports that prices there have increased sharply in recent weeks, with the price of flour more than doubling and rice increasing by 88 percent, vegetable oil by 58 percent and bread by more than 110 percent. It also said that 95 percent of shops in areas like Zawiya, Misrata and Sirte are closed.
WFP is also expanding its food safety net programs in Egypt and Tunisia, it said, to assist 180,000 people in communities hard hit by the loss of money that used to be sent home by migrant workers in Libya.
WFP does not usually work in developed countries, but the Japanese government asked for logistical help in its crisis, said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.
“Today WFP stands with Japan — one of the most generous humanitarian nations on earth that has always been there when others have needed help,” Sheeran said in statement.
WFP’s logistics experts are helping to move relief items quickly to the affected areas, where some 350,000 people are estimated to be staying in 2,100 shelters. WFP is also arranging the delivery of mobile warehouses to store items that will help those most affected by the disaster.
The entire $1.17 million required to support WFP’s operation in Japan comes from donations from the general public, companies and their employees, Sheeran said. Nearly half the money came through the American Red Cross.
The United Nations World Food Programme has stepped up provision of food to hungry people crossing Libya’s borders and is helping deliver relief to victims of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis.
The agency, based in Rome, said in a news release today that it has moved more than 1,500 metric tons of food into eastern Libya and pre-positioned more than 6,000 metric tons of food in emergency supplies.
WFP said it is concerned about access to food inside Libya, citing reports that prices there have increased sharply in recent weeks, with the price of flour more than doubling and rice increasing by 88 percent, vegetable oil by 58 percent and bread by more than 110 percent. It also said that 95 percent of shops in areas like Zawiya, Misrata and Sirte are closed.
WFP is also expanding its food safety net programs in Egypt and Tunisia, it said, to assist 180,000 people in communities hard hit by the loss of money that used to be sent home by migrant workers in Libya.
WFP does not usually work in developed countries, but the Japanese government asked for logistical help in its crisis, said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.
“Today WFP stands with Japan — one of the most generous humanitarian nations on earth that has always been there when others have needed help,” Sheeran said in statement.
WFP’s logistics experts are helping to move relief items quickly to the affected areas, where some 350,000 people are estimated to be staying in 2,100 shelters. WFP is also arranging the delivery of mobile warehouses to store items that will help those most affected by the disaster.
The entire $1.17 million required to support WFP’s operation in Japan comes from donations from the general public, companies and their employees, Sheeran said. Nearly half the money came through the American Red Cross.
