Additional food relief available for Africa and Iraq - Trade Notes - Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust - Brief Article

AgExporter, June, 2003

In March, 200,000 metric tons of wheat were released from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust for emergency food assistance in Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Eritrea. Food crises in the Horn of Africa and southern Africa threaten some 38 million people with starvation. In addition, 200,000 metric tons of wheat from the Trust were released for emergency food assistance in Iraq, with another 400,000 tons to be made available as needed.

The United States is working in close partnership with international institutions and other nations as well as private voluntary organizations to ensure the rapid delivery of humanitarian relief for Iraq. The Trust is an emergency reserve administered under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture. It is available for humanitarian relief in developing countries, allowing the United States to respond to unanticipated food crises.