Fikremariam Tesfaye
4 December 2008
Addis Abeba — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday contributed $22 million dollar-worth food itemsto support World Food Program's (WFP) Urban HIV/AIDS Program in Ethiopia over the next three years.
This was revealed at an event the two organizations hosted to celebrate their long-standing partnership.
The program will address the food and nutritional needs of thousands of malnourished people living with HIV and their vulnerable children living in urban and per-urban areas, USAID/Ethiopia Mission Director Glenn Anders said on the occasion.
He said the contribution will further strengthen the collaboration between USAID and WFP aimed at improving the lives of tens of thousands of people living with HIV and their vulnerable children.
WFP Country Director Mohammed Diab expressed gratitude for the contribution from PEPFAR.
He said the contribution was a source of substance and hope to people living with HIV.
"WFP is indebted to USAID for this significant donation. It will allow WFP to continue the important work of providing nutritional support to individuals living with, and affected by HIV/AIDS. Food is often cited as their greatest and most urgent need," the country Diab noted.
The event comes the day after World AIDS Day, when millions around the world commemorated the day of action on HIV/AIDS.
The theme for this year is "Celebrate Life" as lifesaving treatments have restored many people living with HIV/AIDS have.
U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) currently supports lifesaving treatments for 1.7 million people worldwide and for 120,000 in Ethiopia as of October this year.
It has provided $18.8 billion in HIV/AIDS funding worldwide of which Ethiopia receives the fourth largest amount of PEPFAR funds, according to information from the US Embassy here.
WFP's second largest operation in Africa assists households facing chronic food insecurity and affected by natural disasters, refugees, pregnant and nursing mothers, school children and individuals infected or affected by HIV-AIDS.
WFP also helps communities through land rehabilitation programs, and plays a leading role in capacity development initiatives.
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