Many thousands of people are fleeing the conflict in Libya. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working to feed these victims of war.
When conflict escalates, so too does hunger. Food supply chains inevitably break down with the chaos. WFP says it has "moved more than 1,500 metric tons of food into Eastern Libya and pre-positioned more than 6,000 metric tons of food in emergency supplies."
The agency is also mobilizing to meet growing humanitarian needs. Prefabricated warehouses and mobile offices to coordinate relief are being shipped into the area.
WFP is feeding the displaced who cross over the border from Libya into neighboring Tunisia and Egypt. At the Choucha camp on the Libyan-Tunisia border, WFP has "two full kitchens operational and the capacity to provide up to 25,000 meals daily."
Feeding the displaced is very much a team effort with WFP, charities and Tunisian communities coming to the rescue. Abeer Etefa, WFP spokesperson says, "Local communities are showing great generosity and solidarity, providing the people who arrive with food and other supplies.” WFP is also planning to provide hot meals for people stranded on the Libyan-Egyptian border.
Feeding those who have fled Libya is just one part of the relief mission. There are those trapped inside the conflict-torn country in need of aid. Reports are disturbing.
A WFP survey found "that food prices in Libya had increased sharply in recent weeks, with the price of flour more than doubling, rice by 88 percent, vegetable oil by 58 percent and bread by over 110 percent. It was also reported that 95 percent of shops in areas like Zawiya, Misrata and Sirte were closed."
What is critical for the Libyan crisis is to keep food supply chains moving. WFP has appealed for 39.2 million dollars from the international community to fund this relief.
Article comments