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<\/p>\nThe United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has welcomed a $3.39 million contribution from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to help meet the immediate food needs of drought-affected people in Zambia.<\/p>\n
The US support, confirmed in December 2019, comes at a moment of increasing needs, after drought and prolonged dry spells have left 2.3 million people severely food insecure and in need of assistance. Through this funding, WFP will deliver 2,380 MT of pulses to complement the Government\u2019s maize for three months, giving 255,000 drought-affected people across the country the food and nutritional assistance they need.<\/p>\n
\u201d WFP requires $36 million to effectively support the Government in responding to the crisis. USAID\u2019s contribution represents approximately 10 percent of the total needs and will allow WFP to ensure that drought-affected people will not go to bed hungry during this year\u2019s lean season,\u2019\u2019 said Jennifer Bitonde, WFP\u2019s Country Representative in Zambia.<\/p>\n
WFP is currently supporting the Government\u2019s response by delivering government-supplied maize meal, as well as by procuring and delivering pulses to ensure a nutrition-sensitive food basket. WFP is also working closely with partners to monitor food distributions and guarantee that resources reach those most in need.<\/p>\n
About 1.1 million people are expected to receive WFP\u2019s support, while the remaining 1.2 million will be assisted by the Government and other partners with whom WFP is working.<\/p>\n
The United States is also one of the main donors to WFP\u2019s response in support of the refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is the other component of WFP\u2019s crisis response in Zambia. In 2019, WFP supported about 14,000 refugees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thankful for the United States\u2019 continuous collaboration and efforts towards achieving Zero Hunger in Zambia,\u201d said Ms. Bitonde.<\/p>\n
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