Many of these people are in hospitals, clinics, orphanages or are simply displaced in urban centres and have been receiving food through programmes supported by the World Food Programme. Insecurity and lack of clearances have prevented WFP from replenishing them.
Every month gets more difficult.
WFP has requested for all necessary clearances to be issued in order to begin shuttling food in a cross-border operation from neighbouring Guinea into Sierra Leone. This stock is in addition to the 6,300 tons of food aid held in Guinea by other agencies. Since the May 25 coup in Sierra Leone, the prices of basic food commodities such as rice and palm oil have doubled, banks and many business remain closed, and thousands of workers have been laid off. Although there are reports that the current harvest may result in a higher yield this year, commercial distribution of it throughout Sierra Leone could be seriously constrained due to insecurity, while many of those who may get access to it will have little money or resources to purchase it. Wagdi Othman WFP Regional Information Officer, Abidjan Tel.