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Algeria + 1 more

WFP Algeria Country Brief, June 2017

Attachments

Highlights

  • WFP Algeria urgently requires USD 11.7 million to ensure food distribution of 125,000 rations to vulnerable Sahrawi refugees for the next six months

  • Food rations for May were reduced by almost 20 percent due to insufficient funding level

  • Since January 2017, due to significant funding constraints for WFP’s nutrition programmes, no specialized nutrition products were available for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition and anaemia

  • Food distribution currently continues thanks to WFP advance financing (USD 5.3 million from IRA and IPL) that will need to be reimbursed by future donor contributions.

Operational Updates

  • Due to funding constraints, the May food rations had to be reduced by almost 20 percent. Despite this, and thanks to WFP advance financing (Immediate Response Account-IRA and Internal Project Lending- IPL), WFP Algeria was still able to distribute 125,000 rations, consisting of 8 kg wheat flour, 2 kg barley, 1 kg yellow split peas, 1 kg lentils, 1 kg sugar and 900 g of fortified vegetable oil. No Corn Soya Blend (CSB+), nor rice were distributed, as a result, the monthly calorie intake reached a daily average of 1,776 kcal per person, below the planned value of 2,166 kcal per person. This reduction comes only a few weeks before Ramadan.

  • In addition to the monthly food ration provided by WFP, the refugees received a one-time ration of 1.5 kg of Dates; a special Ramadan contribution from Saudi Arabia, the dates play an important role in breaking of the fast during the Holy month.

  • Under its nutrition activity, WFP distributed daily rations of 100 g CSB+, 10 g vegetable oil and 7.5 g sugar to treat 572 malnourished pregnant women and nursing mothers. No products were available for the treatment and prevention of MAM in children, nor for the prevention of MAM in women due to funding constraints.
    Challenges

  • WFP Algeria is facing serious funding constraints. Unless additional contributions are received, there will be no food commodities for distribution in the coming months with reductions starting in June. WFP is intensifying advocacy efforts to close the funding gap, through regular meetings with donors and visits to the camps. This year, representatives of the embassies of Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, Angola, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Russia, United Kingdom and Belgium have visited the camps.

  • Since January, WFP has been unable to distribute specialised nutritious food (SNF) needed to prevent and treat malnutrition in children and women including Plumpy’Sup and Nutributter. The lack of these products seriously impacts the most vulnerable and might lead to an increase of MAM in the camps. These products are not available due to funding constraints, as well as delays in contributions which complicate funding forecasts for the coming months. In addition, the majority of SNF have to be purchased internationally and have long lead purchase times. In particular, the lack of Plumpy’Sup to treat malnutrition in children is problematic; WFP is trying to mobilise resources for this activity. Around USD 45,000 is required every month to cover this activity.

Other activities:

  • On 17 May, WFP Algeria held a special brief for its donors in Algiers to inform them about the serious funding situation and the resulting reduction of basic food rations.

  • Through a press release issued on 15 May, WFP Algeria appealed to donors and informed the public of the difficult funding situation and the need to reduce food rations.