Where possible, WFP purchases food in local markets to save costs, benefits farmers and help nurture fledgling local economies. WFP buys 20 times more food in Ethiopia than it did in 1990. In 2006, WFP purchased nearly 155,000 metric tons of food in the country, valued at €24.7 million. Globally in 2006, 77 percent of WFP's total food purchases were made in 70 developing countries at a cost of €324.3 million.
The European Commission is the second largest donor to WFP operations in Ethiopia. Since 2002, the EC has contributed more than €92 million to WFP.
"This donation could not be more timely since we face significant funding shortfalls for much of our work," said Diab. He warned that Ethiopia could experience "increasing rates of malnutrition leading to more mothers and children dying" without funds to continue the agency's multi-layered approach, including targeted and supplementary feeding, the provision of vitamin A supplements, malnutrition screening and essential health and nutrition education.
Among the 4 million people WFP currently assists in Ethiopia, one million are men, women and children who are highly food insecure and hit by recurrent natural disasters such as drought and floods. WFP also provides fortified blended food and vegetable oil for some 700,000 children, pregnant and nursing women who are malnourished. Mothers receive basic nutrition education on how best to use the food and on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the early months after birth.
Source: WFP
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