PESHAWAR March 22: The World Food Programme has started an emergency operation for distirbution of footstuff in the rain- and snowfall-affected areas of NWFP.

The main objective of the operation is to provide relief to people, who have limited means and cannot buy food as they have lost almost everything they had. The WFP’s food assistance will supplement the food supply in the affected areas.

The first relief convoy carried 520 MT of wheat flour and 65 MT of vegetable oil for 13,000 affected families, with a free basic ration of wheat flour at the rate of 40 kgs and vegetable oil at the rate of 5 kgs per family for one month (March 2005).

The main areas, which are badly affected include Kohistan, Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Chitral, Battagramm and Shangla.

Currently, the operation will be for one month but the WFP plans to extend the operation for another three months depending on the availability of resources.

The emergency operation is being carried out through International Rescue Committee (IRC) with assistance and support from communities and district governments.

The WFP staff will monitor the food distribution process as well.

Ghulam Farooq Relief Commissioner for NWFP and Salim Akhtar head of Sub-office WFP-Peshawar were also present on the occasion, said a press release.—APP