http://www.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/yemen/10329693.html
UN body appeals to donors to rescue Yemen from famine
By Nasser Arrabyee correspondent
Published: July 08, 2009, 16:48
SANA'A: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) called on Wednesday
for more international help to rescue Yemen from a possible famine.
"WFP is urgently appealing to partners for additional support to help the
agency address critical levels of hunger and malnutrition in Yemen," said the
Sana'a-based office of the WFP in a statement sent to media.
In 2009, WFP is working to improve the food security and nutritional
status of more than 1.6 million vulnerable Yemenis at a cost of $55 million,
the statement said.
The WFP's ability to meet its commitments is being increasingly
challenged by limited funding, and is currently facing a dramatic shortfall of
$23 million - about 42 per cent of the total needs for this year alone, added
the statement.
"Volatile food and fuel prices combined with conflict and natural
disasters over the past years have severely affected the country, leaving more
than one in three Yemenis suffering from chronic hunger," said WFP
Representative in Yemen Gian Carlo Cirri.
"There is an urgent need for increased support so that WFP can continue
to honour its commitments to Yemen's most vulnerable people, especially at a
time when the current global financial crisis is further compounding the
situation."
WFP helps about 850,000 Yemenis people every year in field of health and
education.
On October 2009, WFP will not have the resources to continue assisting
more than 815,000 of the most vulnerable people including families displaced by
the conflict in Sa'ada in northern Yemen and those who lost their homes and
livelihoods during last year's floods in eastern Yemen; families pushed deeper
into poverty as a result of high food prices; and refugees who have fled
turmoil in Somalia. These families depend on WFP food not only for survival,
but to help them recover from tragedy and begin to rebuild their lives
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