WFP has correspondingly increased food distribution, delivering food assistance to over 1 million beneficiaries in July and increasing the number of food drop locations in the region.

More than 10 million people in the region are in need of food assistance.

The cards provide financial assistance, on a monthly basis, to families facing food insecurity.

The World Food Programme (WFP) works directly with African Governments to tackle food insecurity by providing food aid and technical assistance to address the major symptoms and causes of food insecurity faced by Governments throughout sub Saharan Africa.

ECHO had previously provided supplementary assistance to help enrich and diversify the refugees' food basket.

Provision of food assistance has also kept pace with the needs of the affected populations.

In total, 17 million was allocated through April 2005 in cash assistance and food aid.

An inter ministerial commission on food aid has been established, with the assistance of international food agencies and donors, to identify the areas that are most likely to be vulnerable to food shortages.

In past years, South Korea has been the primary external source of food, through either direct food assistance (for the immediate problem) or deliveries of fertilizer.

In the Gaza Strip alone, at least 1.3 million Palestinians had their access to food, including its production, limited and therefore depended heavily on food assistance.

We may recall the hijacking of a World Food Programme ship carrying food assistance in the waters off the coast of Somalia in June this year.

For our part, Japan has provided humanitarian assistance in the form of blankets and food aid.

That assistance included a group of 16 experts, medical material, various kinds of equipment and food.

In the short term, there was a need for financial and medical assistance and food packages.

Food assistance reached a record number of people, approximately 1.7 million, during the month of February.

Welcoming the progress that has been made in alleviating the humanitarian assistance needs of East Timor, while noting continuing requirements for food and shelter assistance,

At a time when the need for food assistance is particularly high, some governments have withdrawn food subsidies and others have scaled back subsidies for agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides, hindering local food production.

In order to make the products of the food processing industries competitive on the world market, UNIDO will provide assistance in food safety and quality through specifically designed projects targeting the deficiencies of individual food industry subsectors.

It also planned to provide assistance, such as food, nutrition and shelter, to children in particularly difficult circumstances.

WFP's Strategic Plan 2004 2007 makes helping countries to establish and manage country food assistance programmes a Strategic Priority.

In Uganda, 2.1 million displaced people living in settlements were dependent on WFP food assistance as at June 2005.

The relocation is facing problems, including the camp absorption capacity and the provision of assistance, despite the World Food Programme (WFP) provision of one time emergency food for some 4,500 persons.

An interministerial Commission on Food Aid, which, with the assistance of international actors, is currently drawing up a national strategy to identify and distribute food to those most vulnerable to shortages.

Aiming to enhance the provision by the United Nations system of humanitarian assistance through the creation of a stockpile of food micro algae rehabilitative biomass to be used in food emergencies,

(j) Ensure that humanitarian assistance, including food aid, reaches the target groups, with unimpeded access and transparent monitoring and accountability

She wondered, in particular, about the basic livelihood of women, including how much food was produced, how much international assistance was required to meet food needs, and whether such needs were being met.

Humanitarian assistance constituted the chief part of the household food basket in the Gaza Strip, whereas in the West Bank employment and casual labour were the main sources of household income and food.

For instance, assistance given to newly arrived refugees for basic necessities such as food, clothing, housing, education, money, and medical care.

In the area of food assistance to refugees and returnees, for instance, the Office pursued its close partnership with WFP, working to tackle the many protection problems which arise as a result of food deficits.

Yet we much recognize that this huge need for food assistance is symbolic of the vicious cycle that we are caught in.

These increases are included in the regular social assistance payments that clients receive, and are an enhancement to the food allowance portion of Income Support benefits to acknowledge the high cost of food purchases in Nunavut.

Inadequate funding of the 2005 Consolidated Appeal Process forced humanitarian agencies to reduce the targeted number of persons receiving food assistance from 2.3 million to 1.2 million and the standard food ration by 40 per cent.

As of July 2004, 77 joint WFP FAO projects were operational in 41 countries, with WFP providing food and FAO supplying technical assistance.

3. Calls upon the international community to respond in a timely manner to the joint 2005 appeal of the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia for emergency assistance for Ethiopia, covering food and non food needs

Instead of needing food assistance, many of the farm families were able to cope with the harsh weather and look forward to a harvest.

As of 28 December, the area began to receive some international assistance from donor countries and also from the World Food Programme and UNICEF.

But other countries that may simply have small populations or are dependent on their neighbours for transport, food, water or energy, also need assistance.

Thus far, some 25 million in assistance, including food aid, medicine and other products have been transported aboard Qatari aircraft to the affected countries.

During all pregnancy stages they are helped to prepare the unborn's trousseau and undergo clinical exams they receive complimentary food items, as well as speech therapy, nursing assistance and music therapy assistance for themselves and their families.

Rural women in particular also receive assistance from such organizations as Crédit Rural, CENAFOD, SASSAKAWA Global 2000 and PASAL (Food Security Programme) and SG 2000.

Every year, WFP provides food aid to millions of vulnerable people who would risk their livelihoods and in many cases face starvation without humanitarian assistance.

I am grateful for the pledges of relief food assistance made by our cooperating partners such as the World Food Programme, the British Government, the European Union, the Japanese Government, the United States Government, the Belgian Government and the Norwegian Government.

The number of affected populations that received sustained humanitarian assistance in the life saving sectors of food, water, sanitation, shelter, non food items and health services has remained steady since the beginning of 2005 at roughly 60 to 75 per cent.

The rainy season ends in a month and there hasn t been much rain this year. Meaning, an estimated 120,000 people will need food assistance through December.

Unprepared and inexperienced in dealing with this influx of refugees seeking shelter, food and protection, Bulgaria has requested assistance and financial aid from the European Union.