WFP says Iraq operation near fully funded, thanks to huge iraqi government donation

The Iraqi donation, which was confirmed in May, has been used to purchase more than 31,000 metric tons of wheat flour, 2,600 tons of oil and 2,250 tons of beans for distribution to vulnerable IDPs in all of Iraq's 18 governorates.

"It was this contribution, more than anything else, that ensured that the poorest among the displaced, who have lost access to the Iraqi Public Distribution System (PDS), are still receiving food rations," said Edward Kallon, WFP Iraq Country Director.

The WFP operation targets the most vulnerable among displaced people who are unable to register for PDS rations - which all 29 million Iraqis are eligible to receive - because they have left their original place of residence.

The WFP announcement came two months after the publication of a detailed report by the Iraqi Government and WFP on food security in Iraq, which showed that the numbers of people without adequate access to food has dwindled from around four million in 2005 to just 930,000 last year.

Kallon attributed the improvement in food security to increased economic activity across the country, stimulated by a marked improvement in security and the humanitarian efforts of the international community, while noting that the situation remained volatile and any upsurge in violence could undermine the whole process.

At the same time, the report - the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis - warned that a further 6.4 million people were in danger of sliding into food insecurity if it were not for safety nets such as the Government-run PDS, under which every Iraqi is entitled to a monthly food basket to cover the nutritional needs.

The report recommends continued food assistance to the most vulnerable in collaboration with the Government's efforts to reform the PDS. It calls for support to initiatives to improve mother and child caring practices, scaling up food fortification and providing food for education in the poorest areas, with particular emphasis on girls' enrolment and attendance.

Kallon said that WFP stood ready to assist in these areas, particularly with a view to providing technical expertise and helping build capacity, should the Government of Iraq request it.