Half-million in Nepal lose food aid after WFP cuts budget

More than 500,000 people in Nepal may soon be without food aid from the World Food Programme (WFP), due to $44 million in budget cuts.

WFP has been providing food aid to villages in Nepal’s western hills since the end of the decade-long civil war between Nepal’s royal government and Maoist rebels in 2006. The severe food crisis has stayed out of the public eye as areas receiving aid can only be reached by helicopter or by foot; a week-long journey. 

Villagers grow staple grains including wheat, millet, barley, and rice, but harvests’ can only sustain communities for 3-6 months. The rest of the year the region suffers from food shortages, with 70% of children estimated to suffer from malnutrition.

WFP cited donor fatigue and the global financial crisis as reasons for the budget shortfall and program cutbacks.

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