WFP today welcomed a US$3.3 million (CDN$3.5 million) donation from the Government of Canada, which will help the agency scale up its operations in response to the looming food crisis in Zimbabwe.

“WFP is extremely grateful to the Canadian government for this very timely contribution to our Immediate Response Account, which will allow us to buy maize now so that we are ready to begin distributing it in September when tens of thousands of Zimbabwean families will start to run out of food,” said Thomas Yanga, Deputy Regional Director for Southern Africa.

Economic turmoil

WFP is currently assisting 300,000 people per month in Zimbabwe but this number is set to rise dramatically in the coming months when millions of people will face food shortages due to this year’s poor harvest and the worsening economic turmoil.

WFP will use the Canadian donation to buy around 6,600 metric tons of maize within southern Africa. Along with other commodities, this maize will be distributed from September via a vulnerable group feeding programme to people in the worst-affected parts of Zimbabwe.

This new contribution secures Canada’s position as the third largest donor to WFP globally in 2007.

Brenda Barton
Deputy Director
Communications
WFP/Rome
Tel. +39-06-65132602
Cell. +39-3472582217
(ISDN line available)

Gregory Barrow
WFP/London
Tel. +44-20-72409001
Cell. +44-7968-008474

Christiane Berthiaume
WFP/Geneva
Tel. +41-22-9178564
Cell. +41-792857304

Jennifer Parmelee
WFP/Washington
Tel. +1-202-6530010
Ext. 1149
Cell. +1-202-4223383

Bettina Luescher
WFP/New York
Tel. +1-212-9635196
Cell. +1-646-8241112