Empowering Women Through Nutrition Security The theme for this year's International Women's Day: "Equal rights, equal opportunities: progress for all," recognizes the importance women play in their communities from being the essential caretaker in almost every society in the world to leading the growth of small businesses in areas such as Africa. (..) According to the World Food Program, it is estimated that iron deficiency, anemia and maternal short stature increase the risk of death at delivery and account for at least 20% of maternal mortality.
Hunger Again In Guatemala United Nations and partners seek $34 million to assist drought-stricken Guatemalans. In Guatemala, WFP supports 350,000 people in school and preschool feeding, and mother/child care. The United Nations, together with the Guatemalan Government and aid partners, launched on March 5th, a $34 million appeal to counter food shortages affecting 2.7 million people living in the Central American country's so-called ‘dry corridor,' which even before last year's drought had one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the world.
WFP Boosts Farming In Liberia In a bid to encourage local rice production in Liberia and ensure food security, the World Food Program (WFP) purchased 1,000 metric tons (about 20,000 bags) of seed rice from Dokokan Farmers Cooperative in Gbedin, Nimba County, on Friday, March 5. The cost of the rice is estimated at over US$300,000 which, the WFP says, was made available by the United States Government and the foundation of American billionaire and humanitarian, Howard Buffet.
Even Band Aid Is Not Above Criticism There are some things that are just too sensitive and difficult to inquire about, and the idea that considerable sums that ordinary people around the world – but especially here in the UK – raised to aid and help their starving fellow humans in Ethiopia in the mid-1980s is one of them. (..) humanitarian operations in the midst of large-scale civil wars where territory is held by rival powers are almost always politicised and misused. (..) in my own country, Somalia, where al-Qaida-affiliated groups have dictated how the World Food Programme delivers emergency food.
Refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo tough it out in Congo Republic "The children who are playing have just had a small meal," said Ngbatambala, a community leader. "The ones who are crying haven't had anything since this morning. Here, it is a single meal per day." (..) The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has paid only one visit, last December, to distribute food across the whole region, according to aid workers and refugees.
