WFP resumes food distribution to refugees in Uganda

The UN World Food Program (WFP) on Friday announced it will resume distribution of full-size food rations to all refugees in Uganda after receiving 17.7 million U.S. dollars funding from the United States and Australia.

The food agency in a statement issued here said the 15.4 million dollars received from US and the 2.3 million dollars from Australia will also be used to support extremely food insecure households in northeastern part of the country, commonly known as Karamoja by helping to fill their food gap between April and July.

"These generous contributions have come at a critical time and will allow WFP to support nearly 460,000 people -- both Ugandans and refugees -- with life-saving assistance for three to four months," said Alice Martin-Daihirou, WFP Country Representative.

In January, a lack of funding forced WFP to cut food rations for 146,000 refugees who had arrived in Uganda before July 2013. However, the ration cuts -- a last-resort measure, did not affected the new South Sudanese refugees arriving in the East African country since fighting broke out in their country in mid- December 2013.

Daihirou said WFP still requires additional funding in order to continue providing full rations to all refugees through the end of the year.

The food agency needs 7.6 million dollars per month to provide basic food and nutrition support to refugees.

WFP currently assists 303,000 refugees in Uganda, playing a key role as part of a coordinated effort under the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

"The influx of people fleeing the conflict from neighboring South Sudan over the last 14 months has tripled WFP's funding requirements to meet refugees' basic food and nutrition needs, and numbers are projected to grow to 383,000 by December," the statement said.

With the new contributions, WFP will also be able to provide a market opportunity for small-scale farmer groups by supporting local food purchases. Endi