Food agency faces crisis in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The World Food Program said Wednesday it faces a funding crisis in providing food to 4 million people in Zimbabwe and has been forced to cut rations.

"WFP still requires $140 million to fund its operations in Zimbabwe until the end of March 2009 -- with a shortfall of approximately 145,000 tons of food, including 110,000 metric tons of cereals and 35,000 metric tons of other food commodities," the U.N. agency said in a news release issued from New York.

No food is in the pipeline for January and February distributions to feed those affected by a disastrous harvest, agency officials said, "just when the crisis is reaching its peak and when WFP is aiming to assist over 4 million people each month."

The November cereal ration was reduced from 26 pounds to 22 pound per person per month and other cuts also were made, the organization said.

The number of people needing assistance is expected to rise to 5.1 million at the expected peak of the crisis in early 2009, U.N. figures indicate.