NEW YORK: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a USD 126-million year-long emergency operation to feed more than one million displaced Iraqis, unable to meet their basic needs due to the violence.

"We hope that the food assistance we provide can help avert a much bigger crisis," WFP Iraq Country Director Stefano Porretti said. "We are facing a growing humanitarian crisis as a result of the continuing violence in Iraq. An increasing number of displaced people cannot meet their food needs and therefore require more help."

Some 750,000 of the most vulnerable Iraqis displaced within the country will benefit from the programme as also more than 360,000 others who have fled to Syria.

In Iraq, WFP will supply a complementary food package, consisting of wheat flour, white beans and vegetable oil to internally displaced persons (IDPs), who are unable to get rations under Iraq's Public Distribution System (PDS) due to various difficulties including the transfer of their ration cards to their new place of residence.

In Syria, WFP will provide monthly food rations, consisting of rice, vegetable oil and lentils, initially to 155,000 needy Iraqis but with the aim of reaching about 360,000 by the end of 2008.

Source : PTI