Wednesday, August 15, 2007 UN relief agency gives aid to Basilan evacuees By Malu Cadelina Manar Of Sun.Star General Santos
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The World Food Programme, a food relief and humanitarian agency of the United Nations, has expanded its assistance in war-torn Basilan in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) to help more than 10,000 individuals affected by the ongoing conflict on the island province.
The distribution of food relief started on Saturday, according to Aveen Acuna-Gulo of the WFP.
About 40 tons of rice and beans arrived in Basilan last Saturday and were repackaged for distribution to displaced families.
Also, families who provided refuge to thousands of war victims were given food assistance.
"Thousands of people have fled their homes to avoid getting caught in the crossfire and we need to make sure they have the food and basic assistance that they need," said Valerie Guarnieri, WFP country director in the Philippines.
She stressed it is also important to support the families who are providing refuge to the displaced as they too are affected by the conflict.
WFP is providing assistance in Basilan in response to requests from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-Armm) and the Bangsamoro Development Agency, a Cotabato City-based non-government institution.
Acuna-Gulo said WFP teams have traveled to the area several times to assess needs and discuss aid modalities with authorities and non-governmental organizations.
On August 11, the governor of Basilan signed a letter of understanding with WFP clarifying roles and responsibilities related to the food support program.
WFP has reestablished its presence in the Philippines in 2006 to meet urgent needs and support the ongoing peace process in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.
The food aid program, which is implemented in partnership with DSWD, uses food to increase school attendance, repair damaged infrastructure, provide nutritional support for mothers and children, and promote peace.
"WFP also continues to provide food support to 21,000 displaced people in Central Mindanao," said Acuna-Gulo.
Major donors to WFP's emergency assistance programme for people affected by the conflict in Mindanao include, multilateral funds (US$6.2 million); Japan (US$2.4 million); Australia (US$1.4 million); and Germany (US$985,000).
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency.
"Each year, we give food to an average of 90 million poor people to meet their nutritional needs, including 58 million hungry children in at least 80 of the world's poorest countries," said Guarnieri.
