WFP in need of US$46 million to feed refugees

World Food Programme (WFP) has announced it has no funds to purchase food beginning August this year with the UN agency facing a combined funding shortfall of about US$46 million over the next six months.It says that refugees in Uganda, Rwanda and internally displaced people in the Democratic Republic of Congo will have no food after the said period unless the international community intervenes.A communications officer with the WFP, John Paul Sesonga, said the problem cuts across all Congolese refugees in the region. He, however, cited Rwanda as an exception saying food is available in Rwanda despite insufficient funds.“We have food in Rwanda but we lack funds. That’s why we need the international community to intervene; otherwise, refugees will face harsh conditions,” he told The New Times.In a statement, the WFP said: “WFP’s operations in the three countries currently have a combined funding shortfall of about US$46 million over the next six months, and could still require more resources to meet the needs of a growing number of refugees and internally displaced people.” The WFP regional Programme director, Stanlake Samkange observed that continued violence will lead to more people requiring help adding that “it will be critical to ensure that WFP has sufficient resources to address the needs of the newly displaced.”Tens of thousands have fled their homes with many seeking refuge near Goma or elsewhere in eastern DRC. Thousands more have made the trek across the Rwandan and Ugandan borders fleeing insecurity.Ssesonga revealed that they needed $11.9 million to feed 54,000 Congolese already in three camps up to April 2013. He, however, added that the present violence had exacerbated the situation, saying they require more funds to feed those fleeing the war.Apart from 11,893 Congolese who have already fled from the current fighting, Rwanda harbours additional refugees in different camps including Kiziba Refugee Camp in Karongi District, Gihembe in Gicumbi District as well as Nyabiheke Camp in Gatsibo District.The UN agency says there is a possibility of reducing on the food rations currently provided to the refugees.WFP currently provides assistance to a total of 532,000 Congolese Refugees and internally displaced people in the Great Lakes region. This include 65,000 refugees in Rwanda, 97,000 in Uganda as well as 370,000 IDPs in the Eastern DR Congo.This is not the first time for the UN has decried a lack of funds to feed Congolese refugees. Recently, the WFP reduced the maize rations offered to refugees in the country from 11 kilogrammes per person per month to 5.2 kilogrammes.

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WFP in need of US$46 million to feed refugees