UNITED NATIONS: Facing shortage of funds, the United Nations Food Agency (WFP) has cut rations to about half a million refugees, mainly from Somalia and South Sudan, the world body announced on Friday.

The 50 per cent ration cut comes as WFP struggles to raise $38 million to cover its refugee operations for the next six months. This includes $15.5 million that is urgently required to address food needs through January.

“Cutting rations is the last resort and we’re doing it to eke out the limited food we currently have available over the next ten weeks, as we continue to appeal to the international community to assist,” said Paul Turnbull, WFP deputy director for Kenya, in a press release on Friday.

“WFP has done everything it can to avoid reducing rations, using all means at our disposal to cover critical funding gaps,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 15th , 2014