United States Contributes $3.39 Million to WFP for the Drought Response in Zambia
LUSAKA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a $3.39 million contribution from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to help meet the immediate food needs of drought-affected people in Zambia.
The US support, confirmed in December 2019, comes at a moment of increasing needs, after drought and prolonged dry spells have left 2.3 million people severely food insecure and in need of assistance. Through this funding, WFP will deliver 2,380 metric tons of beans to complement the Government’s corn supply for three months, giving 255,000 drought-affected people across the country the food and nutritional assistance they need.
“WFP requires $36 million to effectively support the Government in responding to the crisis. USAID’s contribution represents approximately 10 percent of the total needs and will allow WFP to ensure that drought-affected people will not go to bed hungry during this year’s lean season,’’ said Jennifer Bitonde, WFP’s Country Representative in Zambia.
WFP is currently supporting the Government’s response by delivering government-supplied corn meal, as well as by procuring and delivering beans to ensure a nutrition-sensitive food basket. WFP is also working closely with partners to monitor food distributions and guarantee that resources reach those most in need.
About 1.1 million people are expected to receive WFP’s support, while the remaining 1.2 million will be assisted by the Government and other partners with whom WFP is working.
The United States is also one of the main donors to WFP’s response in support of the refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is the other component of WFP’s crisis response in Zambia. In 2019, WFP supported about 14,000 refugees.
“We are thankful for the United States’ continuous collaboration and efforts towards achieving Zero Hunger in Zambia,” said Ms. Bitonde.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, natural disasters and the impact of climate change.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): Paola Di Tommaso, WFP/Lusaka, Mob. +260971020341
