Budget Shortfall to Affect Food Aid - UN

 United Nations (UN) World Food Program Executive Direcctor Josette Sheeran on Wednesday said that the agency is in bad need of more financial health to continue its feeding program after a number of pledged donations failed to materials, prompting the humanitarian group top cut budgets.

In its report, UN said that it is short of some $3.7 billion for its 2009 budget based on its assessed and approved needs.

Sheeran said that the humanitarian agency was only able to gather some $6.7 billion as major donations have failed to materialize, adding that they are now discussing possible funding support from various governments to continue its feeding program.

“It is an unprecedented shortfall for the United Nations’ World Food Program. The lack in emergency funding is mainly due to the increase in the number of people who are hungry,” Sheeran said.

Sheeran said that the $3-billio cut in its WFP budget would mean smaller ration volumes and support program reduction to the most hunger stricken nation in the world.

Asked about their timetable and specific cutbacks on the budget, Sheeran refused to detail the situation and the nations that failed to meet their pledge.

Sheeran said that the donations, like any other businesses affected by the recession, were also tight as the crisis began accelerating in 2008.