The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said Thursday it spent nearly $6 million in the Kyrgyz Republic to deliver assistance to the country's most vulnerable people in 2010.
BISHKEK - This is the largest amount ever spent by WFP in a single year in the Kyrgyz Republic and reflects the extent of the operations, including buying food and leasing transport, which were required to respond to the needs of those affected by the crisis in April as well as the impact it had on markets and livelihoods.
"Supporting local markets as much as possible is a cornerstone of WFP engagement in a country and a fundamental component of our humanitarian response policy," said Rasmus Egendal, WFP Representative and Country Director. "This type of 'investment' helps to stabilise markets and create employment."
Throughout the year, WFP distributed 20,000 metric tons of food, of which 8,500 was bought through Kyrgyz companies. This assistance provided support to a peak of 552,400 in the south during this year's conflict, as well as 295,000 people across the country.
In 2011 WFP hopes to extend its support to local companies and food producers as it continues to reach out to people who are chronically food insecure. WFP is currently assisting 240,000 conflict-affected people in the south and 380,000 other vulnerable people in six out of seven of the country's provinces.
WFP started an operation in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2008 to support chronically food insecure and vulnerable people.