Refugees' food rations cut
2005-04-24 21:24
Dakar - Food rations for refugees in the west African state of Sierra Leone are to be cut from next month because numbers are higher than expected, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Sunday.
The WFP, a United Nations agency, has also been forced to act by a shortfall in its finances, having received only 75% of the money needed for its activities in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, it said in a statement to AFP in Dakar.
Rations will be cut from the equivalent of 2 093 to 1 660 calories a day to ensure that enough food is available.
The programme had expected to be feeding 42 000 refugees but the actual number is 50 750.
The discrepancy arises because fewer Liberians than predicted are returning home.
Since the beginning of the year the WFP has suspended a number of its operations in Sierra Leone to divert resources to refugees.
"Even with a cut in rations, and unless there is a rapid and spectacular fall in the number of refugees benefiting from food aid, the WFP will face a shortfall this year," Marcus Prior, its spokesperson, said.
The WFP, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the government of Sierra Leone are to carry out a census of refugees next month to determine their food needs and plan for their return home, the statement said.