Over 1.3 mln across West, Central Africa risk missing out on school meals: WFP

As schools resume this autumn, more than 1.3 million children across West and Central Africa risk missing out on school meals from the World Food Programme (WFP), since widening financial constraints are forcing the United Nations agency to reduce its reach, WFP spokesperson Bettina Luescher said Tuesday.

"Dwindling resources, shifting donor priorities and changed financing mechanisms in some countries" contributed to the funding gap which is jeopardizing programs, she said.

"In most countries in West and Central Africa, school meals have been a lifeline for children, as they are often the only regular and nutritious meals the children receive," said Abdou Dieng, WFP regional director for West Africa, in a statement.

"We urge our supporters not to forget the value the school meals program brings -- a key vehicle to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition -- and not let more than a million children slip deeper or back into in poverty and hunger," he added.

According to WFP estimations, for every U.S. dollar invested in school meals, there is an overall economic return of between 3 U.S. dollars to 8 U.S. dollars due to the improvement in children's health. The meals also increase their productivity as working adults and reverberate through the next generation by improving the health of their own children.

WFP's school meals are a major social safety net. They encourage primary school children, especially girls, to enroll, attend and remain in school.

In 2015, WFP provided daily nutritious meals to over 2.5 million children across West and Central Africa. Endit