NGO not affected by cuts in food aid

World Vision Rwanda will not be affected by cuts in food aid programmes by its parent organisation, World Vision International. The non-governmental organisation has curtailed its food aid programmes and rations in Uganda, Sudan, and Burundi as they react to increasing global food prices coupled with high food demand. Frank Higiro, the Communication Manager of World Vision Rwanda, said their food aid programmes will not be affected by the decision because in Rwanda the programmes are funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “Rwanda is not among the 17 African countries affected by the decision, there is no food price crisis in Rwanda yet, however we appeal to our donors who pledged food aid to honour their pledges,” said Higiro. World Vision Rwanda supports 50,000 Rwandan children in school, and supplements food requirements to 2800 people living with HIV/Aids in Rwanda. Food prices in the world have hiked in the past three years and the impasse has been attributed to current international riots by citizens against their governments in Southern Africa, Benin, Niger, in Asia and Latin America. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has made food high on his agenda, he was also one the first world leaders to warn of the ongoing riots about increasing food prices. Last month, Ki Moon announced a high level task force to help him deal with the global food crisis and has requested for 755 million US dollars to increase funding for the UN food subsidiary the World Food Programme to operate more efficiently. The WFP believes 100 million people are currently going short of food. Ends

National

NGO not affected by cuts in food aid