§ Mr. Boris JohnsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason food aid to Teso in north-east Uganda was distributed through the World Food Programme. [165519]
§ Hilary BennOver the last 12 months DFID has provided £6.4 million specifically for food relief in the north and east of Uganda. This support is channelled through the World Food Programme, which works with NGO partners to distribute food at a local level.
Over 1.5 million people are now displaced in northern and eastern Uganda, requiring a huge and ongoing humanitarian response. DFID channels support for food relief through WFP because it is the UN agency mandated to provide food aid in such a large-scale emergency. It is the only agency in Uganda equipped with the necessary staff, resources and experience required to respond adequately to the situation.