Interview: Rick Corsino, UN World Food Programme Director in Afghanistan

Crucial to the reconstruction of Afghanistan is the health and well being of its children. Food and education are crucial elements for Afghanistan to become a peaceful and prosperous democracy, but years of conflict, natural disasters, and now soaring food prices are hard to overcome. Children’s health and education are constantly at risk in Afghanistan. In this interview with Rick Corsino, director of United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) operations in Afghanistan, we will look at the status of its vital school feeding programs.

How many children are benefiting from the WFP School feeding programs within the country?

In 2008, the WFP School Feeding Programme plans to reach 6,100 primary schools and nearly 2.2 million children - including 0.7 million girls attending school from grades 1 to 9 - in three ways:

1) On-site: provision of high-energy biscuits during class as a midday snack.
2) Wheat take-home ration: before and after winter, especially in areas facing harsh winter conditions.
3) Vegetable oil take-home ration: given as an incentive for girls in areas with a high gender gap, thus aimed to increase enrollment and attendance.

Discuss what effect the meals have on the children in terms of school attendance, performance and nutrition.

High Energy Biscuits: Providing fortified biscuits is a proven means of attracting young children into school. Moreover, the biscuits help them to learn by fulfilling their nutritional requirements and thus improving their development, learning skills, and concentration. A 100-gram packet of biscuits is provided each day to primary school age boys and girls enrolled in schools located in vulnerable and food insecure areas with low enrollment rates and high gender gaps.

Wheat take home rations: These rations are given to schoolchildren before and after winter to boys and girls enrolled in schools located in food-insecure areas with harsh winter conditions and difficult access. The aim is to improve school enrollment in the most vulnerable parts of the country by providing this ration, which benefits not only the children, but also the whole family.

Article Author: William Lambers

William Lambers is the author of "The Roadmap to End Global Hunger," which focuses on the legislation in Congress that would put global hunger at the top of Obama administration's agenda. He is also the author of "Ending World Hunger: School Lunches …

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