WFP appeals Mugu chamber to allow emergency food delivery

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed to the members of the Mugu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) to allow helicopters carrying WFP emergency food rations for drought victims in Mugu in Mid-Western Nepal to land at Gamgudi helipad.

In a statement issued on Friday, the WFP has said that its humanitarian food deliveries have been delayed for over two weeks because the MCCI will not allow air operators to land until their demands for reduced cargo rates are met.

"Local MCCI officials in Mugu are blocking the delivery of international humanitarian assistance and their actions are causing over 3,500 people in Mugu to go hungry," reported WFP Representative, Richard Ragan, "Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue at the local and national level, we have yet to receive assurance that WFP food aid deliveries to Gamgudi will not be disrupted. We urge the Mugu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to respect international humanitarian principles of access to relief food by granting WFP contracted air operators the right to land so that food assistance to the needy people of Mugu can proceed immediately. "

The UN humanitarian agency has informed that it is in its third phase of emergency operations to provide a two-month ration to over 375,000 drought-affected people in Mid- and Far- Western Nepal. "Over 18 helicopter flights are planned out of Surkhet to deliver 65 metric tons of emergency food aid to needy populations living in Kimri, Mangri, Pulu, Roba and Ruga VDCs in Mugu."

On 4 April 2007 , the MCCI informed air operators in Surkhet that flights into Gamgudi, Mugu would not be allowed until their demands for reduced rates for cargo for the local business community were fulfilled.

"WFP provides food assistance to the most vulnerable men, women and children. Without a quick resolution to this issue, the health status of these hungry families in Mugu will be severely threatened," reported Ragan.

WFP's humanitarian support targets the most vulnerable populations living in 31 food deficit districts across Nepal. In addition to food aid for drought-affected families in Mid- and Far Western Nepal, WFP's programmes provide school feeding to students, nutritional support for pregnant and nursing mothers and their young children, livelihood support to poor, food-insecure households, through food for work activities, and direct assistance to Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal, the statement adds. nepalnews.com sd Apr 20 07