World Food Programme Receives U.S. Food Donation Valued at USD $37 Million

November 8, 2006
No. 39/06

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) -- The United States Embassy and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today the donation of food commodities valued at USD $37 million (321,900,000 million birr) from the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The U.S. donation of 70,000 MT of wheat and 5,000 MT of peas to WFP’s Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) will help meet both current relief needs and the first quarter needs of the Ethiopian Government’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) food beneficiaries in 2007.

U.S. Charge d’ Affaires Ambassador Vicki Huddleston joined Mohammed Diab, WFP Representative and Country Director in Ethiopia, and Glenn Anders, USAID/Ethiopia Mission Director, to announce the donation and express gratitude for the continued partnership to help the Ethiopian people. 

“The U.S. Government remains committed to working in collaboration with other donors and the Government of Ethiopia to support programs that address the needs of the Ethiopian people,” Ambassador Huddleston said.  “These important, life-saving efforts are a necessity to confront the food insecurity issue in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa.”  

The donation is in response to the continuing humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, where nearly 6 million people are in need of food assistance. According to the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA), approximately 3 million people require relief assistance until the end of this year as a result of poor mid-year harvests and widespread flooding over the summer. In addition, in 2007, at least 2.8 million people will require direct food assistance through the PSNP. The population requiring food assistance, nevertheless, will climb to close to 5 million people in 2007. 
 
“This generous contribution from the U.S. Government will help us continue our assistance to millions of people affected by food shortages in many parts of the country,” said Diab. “For several years, USAID has supported WFP’s emergency and development operations in favour of the food insecure people in Ethiopia.”

WFP’s programs address immediate food needs while simultaneously preventing the long term consequences of short term consumption shortages, building community infrastructure and other productive assets, encouraging households to engage in production and investment, and supporting the rural transformation process.

“The U.S. Government in general and USAID, in particular, are long-standing and respected partners to WFP,” said Diab.

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For more information please contact:
Melese Awoke, Senior Public Information Asst., WFP/Addis Ababa
Tel. + 251-011-551 5188 ext. 2212 or +251-0911-201981

Tina Malone, Public Information Officer, US Embassy/Addis Ababa
Tel. + 251-011-517-4244