World Food Program Halves Food Assistance for Refugees in Malawi

The World Food Program (WFP) in Malawi, a poor country located in eastern Africa, says a lack of funding has forced it to cut rations for more than 50,000 people in the country's only refugee camp by half.

The WFP statement said the food cuts coincide with refugees in a camp in the country complaining of insufficient food aid, a situation that has forced some refugees to voluntarily return home.

Meanwhile, Simon Denyer, WFP's acting director in Malawi, said the shortages were due to several factors, including the high cost of food both locally and globally.

Denyer explained that the WFP provides monthly cash assistance as refugees face several challenges, including inadequate shelter and inadequate health, water, and sanitation services.

He noted that the food aid was designed to meet the recommended minimum energy requirement of 2,100 calories while stressing that the food cuts mean that refugees now receive a monthly cash allowance of $5.90 per person per day.