Ireland assists WFP operations in Mozambique
​Since the begging of the year Southern Africa has been gripped by an El Niño-induced drought. A number of countries, including Mozambique, have declared national drought disasters and have called for urgent international assistance. The drought in Mozambique has been registered as the most severe in the last 30 years and more than 1.5million people have been identified as food insecure as a consequence. The Irish Aid programme in Mozambique has implemented a number of initiatives in response to this situation. In the first week of December, the Irish Ambassador to Mozambique, William Carlos, signed an agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) Mozambique to provide emergency relieve to 700,000 people affected by drought. €1.5 million has been committed which will enable WFP to carry out a range of activities including, emergency food relief, a school feeding programme and treatment of malnutrition.
Ambassador Carlos mentioned that 'The importance of these funds at this difficult time cannot be overstated. They will allow WFP to strengthen its humanitarian response to the drought and we will continue to work together to ensure that these funds reach those most in need''.