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afrol News, 18 July - The Cape Verdean government and the World Food Programme (WFP) have started distributing food under an emergency program to assist an estimated 30,000 Cape Verdeans facing hunger. The operation came after two seasons of failed harvests. According to the government-close 'Radio Comercial', food distribution now had started in the interior of Santiago Island, one of the hardest hit zones. The joint government-WFP mission was passing from community to community, starting in Santiago's Santa Cruz and São Domingos. Until December, the operation plans to have distributed a total of 2,300 tons of alimentation, including cooking oil, sugar and soybeans. The WFP-coordinated mission will have passed through 13 of Cape Verde's 17 communities during these five months. This mostly includes the islands' rural zones, directly dependent on agricultural outcome. According to WFP, the operation is targeting "mainly vulnerable groups," such as households headed by women, handicapped persons and elderly people. The operation is estimated to cost US$ 1.3-million, provided by donations to WFP. WFP's engagement had followed a request from the Cape Verdean government in June, the first such request in more than 20 years. The appeal had come after a food assessment showed that "many families had already consumed their seed reserves and had none left to sow in the June-July planting season," WFP regional office in Dakar has stated. Cereal harvests in 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 have been only half those of 1999/2000 due to poor rainfall. The consumption of seed grains further increased the crisis. "Unless food distributions commence immediately, the next harvest will be in jeopardy as well," WFP warned in June, pleading donations. The UN agency started its operation in Cape Verde without having received the necessary donations to cover its costs.
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