WFP anticipates the rice will feed nearly one million people for one month. The continuing crisis in the Horn of Africa is unlike any other, leaving 13 million people at risk of starvation and malnutrition.
The shipment of rice will go to support relief efforts in northeastern Kenya, where some of the largest food needs in the Horn exist and where WFP is scaling up its operations to reach 3.75 million people affected by the drought.
Greg Page, Cargill chairman and chief executive officer, said: “Nourishing people is part of Cargill’s vision. Given the desperate need in the Horn of Africa and our unique ability to source and move food to where it is needed, Cargill, with support from its family shareholders, responded in a way in which we hope will ease suffering. Providing emergency assistance is the right thing to do, but the public and private sectors also need to focus on long-term solutions to hunger and work together to ensure that all 7 billionn people on this planet have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.”
In order to contribute the 200,000, 50 kg bags of rice, Cargill sourced the grain, and managed the ocean transportation and logistics. It chartered a vessel, arranged for the purchase and bagging of rice at mills in India and oversaw the ship’s loading at Kakinada, India. The donation’s value is approximately $5m.
.
Source: Cargill
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024