Govt releases $4m for food aid operations

World Food Programme (WFP) aid operations in Angola have been boosted by a US $4 million donation from the country's government. WFP spokesman in Luanda Manuel Cristovao told IRIN on Thursday that the donation from the Angolan government has been confirmed and that the funding will go towards WFP's food aid programmes in the country. "At the start of our current programme for 2004/05 the Angolan government had committed itself to US $7 million in funding for our operations. So this donation is more than half of their total commitment and it is very important as it comes at a time when WFP is facing a shortfall in funding for our operations in Angola," Cristovao added. WFP is currently feeding a million Angolans, many of whom are returning refugees and internally displaced persons. Due to ongoing funding shortages, WFP was forced to halve cereal rations for its general food aid recipients in April this year. The agency's intention had been to try to provide returnees with food aid for two full cropping seasons, but the lack of funds forced it to scale back to one season. Cristovao said the Angolan government's donation could unlock more aid from the international community. "We believe this donation will encourage other countries, the donor community, to come forward with contributions [for aid operations in the country]," Cristovao said. "Initially there was a weak response from donors to our appeal [for support for aid operations], some donors felt the government was not doing much for its own people. Donors were waiting for a sign that the Angolan government was concerned about the situation in the country," he added. So far WFP has received $90 million in response to its appeal. "We still need about $50 million for the current operation, which will last until the end of 2005," Cristovao noted.