WFP welcomes rice donation to aid 500,000 internally displaced in Nigeria

The World Food Program (WFP) has welcomed a donation of 5,000 tons of rice to help feed nearly 500,000 internally-displaced people in the conflict-ravaged north east of Nigeria.

The donation came from Nigeria's central government.

WFP also said on Thursday that the impact of drought was worsening in Kenya, with the number of people dependent on food aid rising from 2.6 million to 3.4 million; representing a 30 per cent increase this year.

Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric de la Rivière, said that conditions were also getting worse for people living in rural areas of Mali.

"Some 3.8 million people (one-fifth of the population) are not sure where their next meal will come from. That's 30 per cent more than during 2016's lean season. WFP says it needs US$32 million until the end of the year and their operations are only half funded."


Matt Wells, United Nations/ GBC.