This was originally posted on wfp.org
ROME – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes the announcement of an USD 800 million direct contribution to WFP by the U.S. State Department. This critical funding will support WFP’s life-saving food and nutrition operations to reach more than 38 million of the most vulnerable across at least 37 countries.
This generous contribution builds on the already significant US contributions made through OCHA pooled funds in support of emergency assistance in 21 countries.
Today’s announcement comes at a moment of unprecedented global need driving hunger to record levels. WFP forecasts that the number of people struggling with acute hunger will increase this year, with millions of families in the world’s most fragile settings at risk of being pushed deeper into severe hunger.
“At a time when needs are outpacing resources, this generous support from the United States is coming at a critical moment,” stressed WFP’s Acting Executive Director Carl Skau. “It is a lifeline to reach people on the brink of famine, provide nutritional support to mothers and children, and position food to prevent millions from slipping further into extreme hunger. Our teams can deliver at speed and scale. With the right resources, we will continue responding to hunger with efficiency, transparency, and accountability.”
The new funding will enable early, efficient, and impactful action using WFP’s unmatched global logistics, pre-positioned food supplies, and data-driven targeting to deliver aid quickly and cost-effectively. The contribution focuses on key areas that include disaster readiness and rapid response in countries which are prone to devastating natural disasters. This spans Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Funding will also support lifesaving emergency response and nutrition activities in complex, protracted humanitarian crises where conditions risk deteriorating into life-threatening situations.
“We are grateful to the U.S. for empowering WFP to deliver when it matters most,” added Skau. “These funds will go towards reaching people around the world – whether it’s scaling up our operations to push back on acute hunger in Lebanon, expanding cash assistance to displaced families in Haiti, or scaling vital food and logistics supply lines in Ebola-hit regions of DRC. We hope this commitment is joined by the international community. Together, we can stay ahead of hunger and save millions of lives.”
The U.S. contribution underscores the vital role of bilateral funding in a rapidly evolving humanitarian landscape where extreme hunger is destabilizing communities – triggering migration, insecurity, economic loss and untold hardship. Flexible funding, in particular, enables WFP to not only address major humanitarian emergencies, but also respond to sudden onset crises, taking pre-emptive action that is proven to protect livelihoods and lower the cost of action.
