U.S. Government Provides $12 Million in Humanitarian Assistance to WFP for IDP and Refugee Operations in Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia, March 21, 2011

March 21, 2011

ROME – The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development's Office of Food for Peace (FFP), contributed $12 million to support the World Food Programme’s (WFP) internally displaced persons and refugee operations in Cote d'Ivoire ($4.5 million) and Liberia ($7.5 million).

In Cote d’Ivoire, WFP will address the 180-day food needs of approximately 135,000 displaced persons and host communities in the western, northern, and central regions, including Abidjan. In Liberia, WFP will address the 180-day food needs of approximately 150,000 Ivoirian refugees and 26,000 members of Liberian host communities.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome (including WFP), Ertharin Cousin, stated, “With this contribution, once again, the people of the United States will support WFP’s emergency activities. This program meets both the essential food needs of people fleeing (and/or affected by) the political crisis in Cote d'Ivoire as well as the food security needs of the host families assisting these refugees by opening their homes. The international community often relies on a network of assistance which includes generous host families."

FFP has obligated $649 million to WFP operations worldwide to date in FY 2011. Of this amount, $75.4 million was contributed in cash under the Emergency Food Security Program for local/regional procurement of commodities.