WFP assists Indonesia

WFP assists Indonesia

ROME (Reuters): The UN's World Food Program yesterday
launched a $88 million appeal for emergency aid to help avert
major shortages in Indonesia, which has been hit by severe
drought and Asia's economic crisis.

"We ask the international community to act now to prevent the
present food shortage from developing into a major food crisis,"
WFP Executive Director Catherine Bertini said in a statement.

The Rome-based agency said it was seeking to provide 225,000
tons of rice and blended foods to feed approximately 4.6 million
of the most vulnerable Indonesians, including pregnant women,
nursing mothers, children under five and families who only have
enough food for one meal a day, the statement said.

WFP will also run some food-for-work programs, said its
appeal.