Failed UK emergency fund cuts food aid to Uganda

Due to insufficient donations from the international community, the World Food Program has been forced to reduce its food assistance to 1.5 million Ugandan refugees, by 50 percent. Frustrated aid workers argued that the U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) absorbed much of the needed aid, but failed to redirect it to relief operations in the African nation. Created last year, the CERF is a pooling facility proposed by U.K. International Development Secretary Hilary Benn to provide rapid funding for emergency relief. At GBP22 million ($43.2 million), total financial aid in Northern Uganda this year fell short of the required GBP65 million ($127.7 million). (Source: Refugees’ food cut as aid fund fails to act/Telegraph)