WFP sounds warning on Libya food stocks situation

Food stocks are depleted and supply chains disrupted in Libya, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) said today, calling for urgent humanitarian aid to the country hit by political unrest.

Food stocks are depleted and supply chains disrupted in Libya, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday, calling for urgent humanitarian aid to the country hit by political unrest.

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Responding to the critical situation in North Africa, the WFP is launching a $38.7 million emergency operation to provide food assistance to 2.7 million people in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia, the agency said in a statement.

"We are planning for a three month emergency operation that will help shore up Egyptian and Tunisian food safety nets and will also purchase food from the region to help ensure that recovery from the disruption can begin immediately," WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said after a visit to the Libyan border.

Under its contingency plans, the WFP has re-routed shipments of wheat and flour to the Tunisian border and the Libyan port of Benghazi, where it will be available to meet immediate humanitarian needs that may arise, the agency said.