End Hunger Blog

Food from UN World Food Programme Provides Daily Meals in Mogadishu

Beginning in late November the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and SAACID began to provide daily meals in Mogadishu, Somalia.  This marked the WFP's first "wet feeding" in Somalia since 1993.  WFP and SAACID are planning to provide meals to up to 50,000 people each day.

According to a WFP press release, the agency was forced to start this program after fatal shooting incidents halted distributions of WFP dry rations in Mogadishu in June. As one-month rations of dried food are stored in the homes of recipients, they are more likely to be stolen than prepared meals eaten on site.

"The depth and scale of the crisis in Somalia is extremely alarming to us all - in some parts acute malnutrition levels surpass emergency threshold levels," said WFP Somalia Country Director Peter Goossens.  "We urge everyone to respect this vital humanitarian operation, which is feeding the desperately hungry."

Goossens also said that insecurity in Mogadishu was also causing the disruption of markets with consequent hyperinflation. There is a lack of employment, and a shortage of medical and sanitation facilities. Malnutrition rates in the capital are rising, with acute malnutrition rates among children under the age of 5 years estimated to be reaching 15 percent or more.

With food assistance needs rising, WFP is appealing to donors to close a $31 million funding gap. WFP private sector partner YUM! Brands recently announced a $1 million contribution from the funds it raised during its World Hunger Relief Week campaign in October. This is the largest corporate donation to WFP Somalia.  For more information:

• East Africa Crisis (UN World Food Programme)
• End Hunger Blog: Somalia

U.S. Food Banks Facing Shortages

America's Second Harvest recently issued a national appeal for support from corporations and individuals as it is projecting a food shortage of 15 million pounds (equal to 11.7 million meals) by the end of the year.

Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of America's Second Harvest, said, "Our food banks across the country are reporting significant increases in the number of people seeking emergency food assistance. We are very concerned that we will not have enough food to feed everyone who needs help. Therefore, there is a critical need for donations from the general public and corporate America."

In addition, the article "Food Banks, in a Squeeze, Tighten Belts" from The New York Times highlights the challenges facing many food banks across the United States of a decreased supply of food at the same time that demand for food is rising.  For example, the article reports on the situation in New Hampshire:

For two weeks this month, the New Hampshire Food Bank distributed supplies reserved for emergency relief. Demand for food here is up 40 percent over last year and supply is down 30 percent, which is striking in the state with the lowest reliance on food banks.

For more information:

• America's Second Harvest Issues National Call for Immediate Support (America's Second Harvest)
• Food Banks, in a Squeeze, Tighten Belts (The New York Times)

Update [12/08]:  The December 8, 2007 edition of The Washington Post has a front page article on this issue - Cupboards Are Bare at Food Banks.

UN World Programme Appeals for $98 Million to Fight Hunger in Indonesia

On November 28, 2007 the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) called upon international donors to contribute urgently to a new three-year, $98 million program to help fight hunger in Indonesia.  WFP has not received significant contributions towards this program and may need to suspend or significantly reduce their efforts to provide assistance to Indonesia unless funding is pledged soon.  In the past year, 845,000 Indonesians have received WFP food assistance in areas including West Timor, Lombok, Madura, East Java and Greater Jakarta.

Tony Banbury, Asia Regional Director for WFP, said "Hunger is still a very real threat for too many poor Indonesians."  According to the WFP, approximately 13 million children under five are malnourished in Indonesia, and as many as 30 percent of children under the age of five are severely malnourished in some of the poorest areas of the country.  For more information:

• WFP Appeals for US$98 Million to Assist the Hungry in Indonesia
• WFP: How to Help

Hunger Persists in Ethiopia

On Monday, August 29th, the UN World Food Programme urged the international community to maintain its focus and generosity to Ethiopia, where more than three million people face persistent hunger and need emergency food aid in the second half of the year. Complete press release here.