UN feeds thousands more in Haiti with new food scheme aimed at women
(Feb.02,2010): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is cautiously optimistic
about a newly launched scheme that could provide rice to some 2 million Haitians over
the next two weeks, and promises to cut down on the recent chaotic scrambles around
food trucks, as men, women and children pushed to obtain supplies. “We have been very
encouraged by how things have gone since the last two days, although there are a
couple of small things that can be improved, said Natasha Scripture, public information
officer with WFP in Port-au-Prince. The scheme launched on Sunday, provides women
with coloured and dated vouchers that can be exchanged for a 25-kilogram rice ration
at one of 16 centres in Port-au-Prince – including at the Sylvio Cator Stadium, which
before the earthquake was the country's national soccer stadium, and now houses a
tent-city of displaced Haitians. The rice ration is expected to feed a family of six
for up to three weeks. So far, some 100,000 people picked up their rations, nearly
all of them women. “WFP generally targets female heads of household with food assistance,
as distribution to women, tends of be more orderly and calm,” explained Natasha Scripture.
While women are given priority, men are encouraged to accompany their families and
help them carry the food home, she added. WFP has said that the food distribution
programme is a trial for the next two weeks. If it works, the system could be implemented
for distribution of other necessities, such as tents or medicines. With the additional
numbers reached this weekend, WFP estimates that it has delivered the equivalent of
more than 22 million meals to nearly 750,000 people since the earthquake struck.