United Nations Radio

Japan has donated 2.6 million dollars to allow the World Food Programme (WFP) to continue its feeding programme in the Central African Republic.

Map of Africa with C.A.R. inset

WFP says that it needs over $6 million by September otherwise it would have to cut rations for about 600,000 people in need of food mainly in the conflict affected northern part of the country.

The agency points out that new needs have emerged since late 2009 with the influx of thousands of refugees from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It warns that if the funding gap remains when schools re-open in October, rations will have to be cut for tens of thousands of children receiving school meals, malnourished children and pregnant and nursing mothers.

WFP spokesperson Emilia Casella says her agency is grateful for the more than two-and-a-half million dollars donated by the government of Japan.

"This will assist us to partially maintain programmes for about two months, although we face very possible ration cuts beyond that. And so, while we thank Japan for assisting our Central African Republic operation to limp along and it will, we are still very urgently calling on donors to assist it with the remainders of funds that we need."

Emilia Casella points out that the WFP operation in Central African Republic is facing a total break in its food pipeline by January.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
(duration: 1'29")