press releases

United States Donates Additional Food Assistance For Refugees

Lusaka
February 7, 2006

The United States will donate an additional 2,000 metric tons of emergency food aid for refugees in Zambia. This was announced by United States Ambassador to Zambia, Carmen Martinez in Lusaka on Wednesday, February 7th. “As the largest donor to World Food Program, the United States Government and the American people continue to demonstrate their commitment to helping the world’s hungry,” Ambassador Martinez said.

The donation comes in response to a December 2005 appeal by the World Food Program (WFP), which supplies food aid for refugees in camps in Zambia, and is evidence of ongoing U.S. government efforts to provide basic support for refugees, in close coordination with the Government of Zambia and with UN agencies.

The value of the food donation is approximately $863,900 including the value of the emergency food, ocean and internal transport, storage and handling costs. This amount of food is adequate to replenish the diminished WFP stock levels, enable WFP to reverse cuts in refugee rations, and avert further cuts in the next two months.

The United States is also participating in the current Joint Assessment Mission organized by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Program. The United States has also responded to Zambia’s appeal for assistance in Southern Province.

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