WFP Executive Director Sees Drought, New Tougher Controls In Somalia

Date: 04 Apr 2011

On her first visit to Somalia, WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran met women and children in a camp for displaced people and expressed alarm over the impact of a deepening drought on malnutrition ratest among children and the elderly.
WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran on her first visit to Somalia today met displaced women and children who are fleeing conflict and deepening drought conditions which are raising malnutrion rates among young children.
"I've seen today that this drought is deepening and I'm especially alarmed by its impact on the most vulnerable including children and the elderly," Sheeran said at Hiran camp for the displaced on the edge of South Galkayo in the state of Galmudug in central Somalia.
WFP has unveiled new controls and monitoring in Somalia to enable it to better target the most vulnerable and ensure that life-saving assistance reaches them.She witnessed a call hotline in use so beneficiaries can tell WFP if they don't receive the full ration they should receive. She also saw other innovative controls WFP is applying to its operations in Somalia.
Central Somalia is the epicentre of what local officials said was the worst drought in the region in 30 years.
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