Emergency Food Support in Asia and the Middle East - World Food Programme 2012

February 2012 - Established in 1961 the World Food Programme (WFP) is the food assistance arm of the United Nations and is the largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger in the world. WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable populations as a means of addressing hunger and global food insecurity. WFP has demonstrated knowledge and capacity to address the urgent food needs of vulnerable populations and contribute to fighting global hunger. Given WFP’s presence and capacity there are no other agencies that are able to perform the same functions on a similar scale as WFP. Decided on the basis of need CIDA funding is supporting WFP food assistance operations in various countries in Asia and the Middle East in 2012. WFP’s main programming areas in humanitarian contexts the provision of food assistance to address acute malnutrition and food insecurity and to protect livelihoods.

Expected outputs include: Through this project the World Food Programme (WFP) is able to respond swiftly to rapid-onset emergencies and protracted crises in Asia and the Middle East. WFP field operations will include: providing food assistance through designated distribution sites (e.g. refugee camps therapeutic feeding centres); activating emergency response mechanisms using ground-breaking technology to undertake assessments and to direct assistance where most needed; undertaking local and regional purchase; and logistical and telecommunications support to transport food to crisis zones through the use of ships planes helicopters and trucks. Expected intermediate outcomes include: This project will contribute to: saving lives and protecting livelihoods in emergencies with a focus on internally displaced people and refugees and other vulnerable populations; preventing acute hunger and investing in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures; restoring and rebuilding lives and livelihoods in post-conflict post-disaster or transition situations; and strengthening the capacities of countries to reduce hunger through handover strategies and local purchase.