UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The executive director to the UN World Food Program (WFP), Ertharin Cousin, confirmed the UN agency's commitment to supporting Haiti in finding a solution to their hunger and malnutrition problem, a UN spokesman told reporters here Wednesday.
"During her first visit to Haiti, Ms. Cousin met with President Michael Martelly," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said at the daily news briefing.
"They resolved to work together to expand sustainable programs, linking school feeding and education, with reinforced local production," he said.
With the loss of support from many donor countries, food provisions for Haiti remain scarce. To continue to provide assistance, the WFP requires an estimated 54.6 million U.S. dollars to keep operating this year alone.
According to the WFP website, if such funds are not provided, children who receive meals at school will be reduced from some 1.7 million to 685,000.
"I appeal to Haiti's friends in the world to continue supporting the government of Haiti and the WFP's efforts to provide sustainable solutions to fight hunger and malnutrition targeted at the most food-insecure and vulnerable populations," said Cousin.
The WFP currently provides meals to an estimated 1.7 million people a month, including school meals for more than 1 million children, nutrition programs to mothers, along with disaster preparedness and emergency response support to the Haitian government.
|
