WFP Statement to offer clarification on recent media coverage regarding the use of its funds in the response to Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.
MANILA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) wishes to offer clarification on recent media coverage regarding the use of its funds in the response to Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.
WFP is an organisation funded entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, companies and private individuals. WFP takes accountability to its donors and beneficiaries very seriously.
Like all humanitarian organizations involved in the response to Yolanda, WFP worked in close coordination with and under the leadership of the Government of the Philippines, in particular in direct cooperation with the Department for Social Welfare and Development.
In partnership with DSWD, as well as through NGOs and other UN agencies, WFP reached nearly 3 million people with food assistance, nutrition support and cash transfers. The partnership was driven by a common objective of providing much-needed food assistance to typhoon survivors.
As a part of these activities, WFP transferred US$6 million to DSWD to provide assistance to some 500,000 food insecure people in 60 municipalities through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or “4Ps“, cash transfer programme. Families received PHP 1,300 on top of their usual Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program cash grant from WFP, plus a one-month supply of rice. WFP conducted standard monitoring activities – both through its own staff and through third-party monitors – to ensure that cash distributions reached their intended recipients.
Through the humanitarian community’s Food Security and Agriculture Cluster, WFP conducted regular consultations with relevant stakeholders including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform, as stated in WFP’s Situation Report #24 of 27 February 2014. However, no funds were channelled through these government bodies.
WFP would like to underline that its activities are related to the mandate of providing food and nutrition assistance to those in need, as well as organising logistics and telecommunications services for the humanitarian community during emergency response. WFP is not involved in providing shelter assistance under the Government’s Work and Financial Plan, which coincidently is also known as WFP.
Reposted from the website of World Food Programme
