Global Food Aid
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| Picture Credit: Associated Press |
Each year, governments, NGOs, and the World Food Programme (WFP) deliver millions of tons of food. The WFP, the UN frontline agency mandated to combat world hunger, channels almost half of all this food aid. Meanwhile, both NGOs and governments channel about a quarter of food aid each. Governments and NGOs, however, play larger roles in the global food aid system. Governments are the main donors to the WFP, while NGOs work with WFP on the ground distributing food aid to the final recipients.Taking this into account, NGOs are involved in about two thirds of all global food aid deliveries. But international food aid is not uncontroversial; Donor countries fail to provide enough food for many hunger emergencies – often chronic hunger crises with little or no political or media attention. Food aid often arrives too late, even in cases where a crisis could be predicted. And, if poorly targeted, food aid can distort local production and markets and thereby threaten long-term food security. While some of these challenges are more difficult to overcome, many could be solved if donor countries' food aid policies would put the needs of the poor before their own. This section provides tables and charts on global food aid, with a focus on the WFP.
Tables and Charts on Global Food Aid | Tables and Charts on WFP Hunger Relief
Global Food Aid
Food Aid Deliveries by Largest Donors (1988-2009)
Food Aid by Category - in Tons (1991-2008)
Food Aid by Category - in Percent (1991-2008)
Food Aid by Recipient Region (1996-2008)
Emergency Food Aid by Recipient Region (1996-2008)
Food Aid Deliveries by YearThese tables and graphs show inidividual donor countries' food aid deliveries by "emergency", "project" and "program" categories, in tons and percentages. They also show individual donor countries' food aid deliveries through "local purchases", "traingular purchases" and "direct transfers" in tons and percentages.
2009 -- 2008 -- 2007 -- 2006 -- 2005 -- 2004 -- 2003 -- 2002 -- 2001 -- 2000 --1999 --1998 --1997 -- 1996 -- 1995 -- 1994 -- 1993 -- 1992 -- 1991 -- 1990 -- 1989 -- 1988 WFP Hunger Relief
Funding Shortfalls of Hunger Crises: By Region (2002 - 2008)These data compare funding shortfalls of the WFP's relief projects in different regions over several years.
Funding Shortfalls of WFP Hunger Programs (2003 - 2006)These data compare funding shortfalls of the WFP's emergency, protracted relief and recovery, development and special operations over several years.
2008 Funding Shortfall Trends
2007 Funding Shortfall Trends
These data show funding shortfalls of the WFP's relief projects with the largest number of beneficiaries.
2006 Funding Shortfall TrendsIn 2006 the World Food Programme sought to help 83 million people through emergency as well as development programs. But as in previous years, donors failed to give sufficient funds. The total funding shortfall for the year was US$707 million not including the funds necessary to guarantee "uninterrupted food aid delivery into early 2007." Of the WFP's relief programs, Sudan and Iraq had the largest shortfalls (US$114 million and US$63 million respectively). Donors provided only 13% of funds needed for WFP's operation in Iraq. "Forgotten crises" in Gambia and Djibouti experienced a 100% shortfall. Further, donors gave only 4% of contributions as "untied multilateral contributions" thereby limiting the WFP's ability to supply funds for crises with little or no funding. The WFP's Immediate Response Account (IRA) and the UN's new Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allowed the WFP to act more rapidly in emergency situations. In 2006 the CERF provided US$58 million to WFP operations mostly in Africa.
Funding Shortfalls of WFP Hunger Programs in 2006
2005 Funding Shortfall TrendsIn 2005, droughts, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, locust invasions, and military conflict caused many hunger emergencies in Africa, Latin America and Asia. The World Food Programme (WFP) appealed for US$4.2 billion worth of food aid to feed 88 million people. But by October, the shortfall for all WFP operations in 2005 totaled US$1.1 billion (26%). This lack of funding forced the WFP to cut food rations in several operations. Of the WFP's emergency operations, Sudan and DPR Korea had the largest shortfalls with over US$100 million lacking for each operation. Donor countries also failed to give sufficient funding to the WFP's Immediate Response Account, which allows the organization to rapidly respond to unforeseen humanitarian disasters such as the earthquake in Pakistan and hurricane Stan in Central America.
Funding Shortfalls of WFP Hunger Programs in 2005
2004 Funding Shortfall TrendsIn 2004 the World Food Programme (WFP) appealed for support to reach 80 million people suffering critical food shortages due to wars, conflicts, natural disasters, poverty, and health crises. As governments continued to fail pledging enough resources, the WFP operations faced serious shortfalls. As of October 4, 2004 the shortfall for all WFP operations totaled US$645 million, the majority of which to relief and emergency operations. While the international community focused its attention on the Darfur humanitarian crises in Sudan and Chad, other, less prominent humanitarian emergencies were neglected and consequently under-funded. In quantity terms, the African region has the most critical shortfall. On October 11 WFP's 2004 operations in Africa still lacked approximately US$250 million.
Funding Shortfalls of WFP Hunger Programs in 2004
2003 Funding Shortfall TrendsIn 2003, extreme weather conditions, conflict, failed economic policies, and HIV/AIDS generated Africa's worst humanitarian crisis in history, with over 40 million people in need of food aid. The WFP estimated its needs for Africa at over US$ 2 billion, more than its total budget worldwide for 2002. Many WFP emergency operations faced serious shortfalls, such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Korea DPR and southern Africa. Meanwhile, donors mobilized enough food aid for WFP's emergency operation in Iraq, the largest emergency operation in WFP's history. While the shortfalls for many emergency and relief operations were high, the shortfalls remained the highest among the WFP's development projects.
Funding Shortfalls of WFP Hunger Programs in 2003
2002 Funding Shortfall TrendsIn 2002 the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) only had enough resources to cover two thirds of its overall requirements. The organization had to resort to drastic measures, such as distributing partial rations, in order to prevent the complete disruption of food assistance to needy populations. The emergency food aid needs were particularly alarming in Africa, where drought, internal conflict, governance issues and the HIV/AIDS pandemic were the major causes of hunger. The WFP warned that without increased donations, the humanitarian crises would further deteriorate and lead to more widespread hunger and starvation.
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