Associated Press of Pakistan
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86146&Itemid=2
LONDON, Sept 17 (APP): The UN food agency has since the start of the current year made a purchase of 142,586 metric tonnes of food commodities locally in Pakistan worth nearly US $ 50,000 to deal with the displacement of people from Swat and Malakand region and their subsequent rehabilitation.
According to information provided to APP by the World Food Programme in context to a question raised at Wednesday’s press briefing by the WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, the organisation said the total value of commodities purchased from Pakistani farmers mounted to US $ 49,681,023.
The commodities included pea wheat blend, high energy biscuits, salt, pulses, sugar, tea, and wheat.
At the briefing, the WFP official raised concerns over lack of funding for the organisation to feed the hungry around the globe.
“The WFP is facing a serious budget shortfall with barely one third of the funding it needs to feed 108 million people this year. The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time in history but the flow of food aid is at a twenty year low.”
Sheeran also pointed out that WFP needs an extra US $ 3 billion to bridge the gap in its budget this year while confirmed WFP funds till September stood at US $ 2.6 billion.
She appealed to the UN General Assembly and the G20 leaders attending their forthcoming summit to put hunger on the map.
According to WFP Director, Kenya, Guatemala, Bangladesh, Chad and Somalia face ration reduction and cuts in programmes to feed poor and hungry.
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