WFP increases assistance to IDPs
World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director, has approved a budget
increase of US $ 17.09 million for the Protracted Relief and Recovery
Operations (PRRO) for Sri Lanka by bringing the total budget of the PRRO
to US $ 134.9 million for the year 2009.
WFP's Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations (PRRO) help sustain
disaster-hit communities as they re-establish livelihoods and stabilize
food security.
The new protracted relief and recovery operation for Sri Lanka for
the period 2009-2010 aims to provide food and protect livelihoods of
displaced people, returning internally displaced persons and those
affected by the conflict but living in their own homes.
Under the continuing WFP's operations, the agency will provide
rations to over 280,000 people accommodated in temporary welfare centres.
In the recent months, WFP has also scaled up the provision of additional
fortified food to all children under the age of five years and for
pregnant and lactating women in the temporary camps.
WFP Executive Director Ms. Josette Sheeran, in conveying the
increased budget of the PRRO to the government of Sri Lanka has assured
the desire of the WFP to continue its cooperation with the Government of
Sri Lanka to stabilize food security and restoration of the livelihood
of IDPs.
Ambassador Hemantha Warnakulasuriya welcomed the continued support
and cooperation of the WFP to Sri Lanka, for its effort to eradicate
hunger and malnutrition and restore livelihood of IDPs. He further added
that this is an acknowledgement of the efforts of the Government led by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to improve the living conditions of IDPs
and restore their livelihood.
All activities under the PRRO will be implemented through the Nation
Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry, which will have
primary responsibility to implement the PRRO, ensuring sustainability
through integration with government policies.
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