WFP food vouchers helping hungry families and local markets in Somalia
WFP food vouchers helping hungry families and local markets in Somalia . 15/05/2012 Thousands of people in Somaliland are getting more fresh meat in their diet as a result of an innovative UN World Food Programme initiative that provides parents with vouchers to help them afford nutritious food from local traders. Under the programme people receive US$80 of vouchers each month, and can use them to buy a variety of food including rice, cooking oil and fresh camel and goat meat. So far, around 15,000 people in north-western Somaliland are being given the vouchers as an alternative to food rations, and WFP plans to expand the initiative to other areas later this year. "Using vouchers gives people greater choice about what food to eat, and gives WFP a powerful new tool for providing food assistance to the most vulnerable," said Stefano Porretti, WFP’s Country Director for Somalia. "At the same time, vouchers help the local economy by supporting local small and medium-scale ...