(MENAFN- Jordan Times) AMMAN — As the World Food Programme (WFP) battles with imminent cuts to its funding on one hand, and an additional 28 million new people on the brink of famine on the other, its executive Director David Beasley called on the donor community to step up and provide the necessary humanitarian aid.
Beasley underlined that the UN agency's 'big fight lies on the budget of 2018,' as a proposed White House decision to cut US aid to several international humanitarian agencies, including the WFP, will be debated soon.
'If the US cuts back, it will be devastating,' Beasley told The Jordan Times.
Between one third and forty per cent of WFP's funds and commodities come from the US, he pointed out.
'There have been rumours or speculations that there will be an effort to reduce funds, but I believe that the US will, at the end of the day, continue to stand strong… I have great confidence that the American people will continue to provide their support,' Beasley underlined.
He explained that WFP operations are expected to substantially increase, and that funding in turn needs to increase, as this year witnessed 28 million more people approach the point of starvation.
'My response to our leaders is that if you are not going to provide us with the funding needed, then end the wars,' Beasley said.
While stating that famine in Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia is a very serious issue, he explained that the programme seeks to make sure that attention is not completely diverted from this region, 'as a starving child is a starving child, whether in south Sudan or here in Jordan'.
'That's why I'm here: to protect against those cuts,' Beasley said, referring to his visit to Jordan to participate in the World Economic Forum, which was held at the Dead Sea between May 19 and 21.
'I'm here to thank and encourage the German donors, the UK donors, the Canadian donors, the EU donors and the Gulf states' donors, who need to step up more and to help their neighbours,' he urged.
The WFP executive director expressed his appreciation to Jordan for hosting Syrian refugees, despite its limited resources.
'We appreciate how much the Jordanian people have done for their neighbours; it is a telling story, it is all about the heart… a burden has been placed upon the people in Jordan with limited resources and schools…,' Beasley said.
It is because of human-made crises that there are 28 million additional people on the brink of famine, Beasley said, noting that ten of WFP's top thirteen major financial areas of providing food or assistance is in human-made conflict areas, describing the situation as 'sad and disgraceful, quite frankly'.
'As the executive director of the WFP, I call upon the leaders in these areas to work out their conflicts for the good of the children that they supposedly care about… and I challenge the leaders of this area to step up more; we appreciate what you have done, but you need to do more, this is your home, this is your region and you need to do more,' Beasley concluded.
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