What is the World Food Programme (WFP)?
A staggering 925 million people worldwide are currently affected by hunger. The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency assigned to combat global hunger. WFP is the largest humanitarian agency in the world. It provides, on average, food aid to 90 million people per year – 58 million of whom are children. WFP depends on voluntary donations to help the hungry and works with other agencies such as World Vision. WFP also supports people in need become more self-sufficient in the long run, through initiatives such as food-for-work programmes and agricultural projects.
Issues covered: Hunger, emergency aid, food aid, livelihoods, food security
Focus countries: Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Laos, Myanmar, Niger, Pakistan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe
How are WFP and World Vision working together?
World Vision is WFP’s largest partner organisation. Every day we collaborate with WFP to deliver life-saving food aid to families facing extreme hunger around the world. The food is provided by WFP, but World Vision must raise money to cover distribution costs, which include transportation, warehouse storage and staffing.
Because of this partnership, every $1 you donate to a World Vision-WFP appeal enables us to deliver $6 worth food aid and other relief essentials.
For example, we are currently working together in Sudan’s South Darfur state. Over the past decade, almost three million people here have been forced to flee their homes, mainly because of food shortages and conflict. Over a million people now live in camps, mostly women and children. They depend on humanitarian assistance from organisations such as World Vision, which includes food aid, healthcare and nutrition, water and sanitation, and education. For every $1 donated, we will deliver $6 worth of food aid to those who need it most today.
See how WFP and World Vision food aid saves lives in South Darfur
How can you get involved?
You can help save lives today in places like South Darfur. Owing to rising food and fuel costs, World Vision cannot reach all the families in need with emergency food rations. We need your support to do more. Your support will help make a difference. Make a donation today and multiply your gift six times to help the hungry.
Hawa (right) with her twin boys, and eldest daughter, Asha.World Vision’s Otash clinic in Sudan has become a haven for 35-year-old Hawa Mohamed and her five children. Having had to flee their village to escape conflict, the family found refuge at the Otash camp. Hawa came to the clinic with her 7-month-old twin boys who suffered from malnutrition. “I can’t breastfeed the babies. I don’t eat enough good food to produce milk,” explained Hawa. With World Vision’s help, the twins are receiving live-saving supplementary feeding at the clinic, as well as regular food rations. Hawa appreciates World Vision’s healthcare services and the fact that her children now rarely go to bed on an empty stomach. “I thank God for two things: for saving our lives and for World Vision’s support. Without World Vision, life would have been unbearable,” a grateful Hawa said.
Key Facts:
- WFP is the United Nations frontline agency assigned to combat global hunger
- Hunger is the world’s number one health risk. It kills more people every year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined
- WFP and World Vision New Zealand work together to give essential aid in Kenya, Laos, Myanmar, Niger, Pakistan, North Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe
- Every $1 you donate to a World Vision-WFP appeal enables World Vision to deliver $6 worth of food aid and other relief essentials
- $75 will provide $450 worth of food, enough to feed 12 families for a month.
