The government of East Timor, supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), will begin on Monday to provide food assistance for three months to more than 18,000 people affected by the El Niño phenomenon, the UN agency announced.
This initiative, led by the Ministry of Social Solidarity of Timor-Leste, the Authority for Inclusion and Civil Protection and other ministries in the country, also Distribute “Super Cereals,” a specialized nutritious food, to 1,000 young womenpregnant or breastfeeding women to prevent malnutrition, according to the WFP statement released this Monday.
“This intervention is crucial to guarantee the protection and food security of people in need in six municipalities affected by El Niño. Our coordinated efforts with the WFP ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive the assistance they need during these difficult times,” said the Minister of Solidarity and Social Inclusion, Verónica Das Dores, quoted in the statement.
East Timor is heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture and food imports as it is a small island nation, WFP said.
Since September 2023, the El Niño weather phenomenon has caused drought conditions, delayed rainfall and flash flooding during the country’s main planting season, he said.
“This disturbance [do clima] harmed agricultural production and income, having a significant impact on food access and availability for many vulnerable people in rural areas,” he stated.
In 32 administrative posts in the six regions most affected by El Niño – Bobonaro, Covalima, Ermera, Lautem, Liquiçá and Manufahi – the programme will purchase, transport and deliver 720 tonnes of basic food products, such as rice, legumes and oil.
“Our joint effort with the government of Timor-Leste is essential to alleviate the difficulties faced by the most vulnerable populations “We are working together to mitigate the impact of this phenomenon and increase the resilience of communities,” said the WFP representative in the country, Cecilia Garzón, also mentioned in the statement.
This initiative, which is supported by a rapid response grant from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, is implemented through three UN agencies: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Food Programme, he said. he concluded.
Source: Observadora
