The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development has launched a Food Aid Special Grant Account to support international efforts to combat the growing hunger crisis in parts of the African continent. The $20 million emergency account will go toward providing urgently-needed food and other supplies to several, severely hit sub-Saharan countries.
Africa’s protracted food security crisis has worsened in recent months, as a combination of erratic weather patterns and prolonged drought wreaks havoc on long-suffering populations, bringing death and destruction to many countries.
Although the international donor community is responding generously to United Nations aid appeals, a substantial gap still exists in meeting current needs. Concern is equally growing over the likelihood of even poorer yields in upcoming harvests.
The OPEC Fund grant will provide timely and effective assistance to sub-Saharan countries where the most acute food shortages still exist. Much of the assistance will be channeled through the World Food Program, the UN lead agency coordinating the global response to the crisis. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
