The United Nations World Food Programme has refuted allegations made by Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) about the quality of food supplied in the mid western region.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO) deny the allegations made by President Subodh Raj Pyakurel of the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) that WFP rice, edible oils and lentils have caused the cholera outbreak in the Mid West of Nepal, UNWFP country representative Richard Ragan and WHO representative Dr. Alexander Andjaparidze said in a joint statement issued Monday.

This is an unscientifically proven statement that could further endanger the lives of people who may decide to skip or reduce needed food in a misguided attempt to protect themselves from this outbreak. Spreading false information that food is the source of cholera contamination will only put more lives at risk, the statement says.

INSEC had alleged the food material provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) was responsible for the outbreak of cholera and diarrhea in the mid-western region of the country, at a press meet organised in Nepalgunj on Sunday, according to reports.

We have found the rice rotten and molded, said INSEC president Pyakurel claiming the substandard quality of rice distributed by the WFP was a reason for spreading of diarrhea epidemic in Mid-Western region. Pyakurel demanded for a quality test of the WFP food aid.

According to UNWFP and WHO, cholera can only be transmitted through contaminated water or lack of adequate hygiene practices and not through rice, lentils or oil. nepalnews.com