GENEVA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme said Tuesday that a month on since Cyclone Idai struck Mozambique, the WFP has reached one million people with food assistance.
WFP spokesperson Herve Verhoosel said at a UN briefing here that the program's assistance continues to expand its emergency response while launching recovery and reconstruction interventions.
He said the "successful scale-up" was due to the generosity of donors, including those who provide unearmarked, flexible funding.
He cautioned, however, that WFP still requires 130 million U.S. dollars to be able to implement its response through June fully.
"People affected by the flood and cyclone are receiving up to 30-day rations of rice and maize meal, pulses, fortified blended food and vegetable oil," said Verhoosel.
He explained that where local markets are functioning, WFP distributions of food will increasingly give way to cash-based transfers.
Some 145,000 people are to receive support this way in April.
The International Organization for Migration IOM said on its website Tuesday since Cyclone Idai made landfall on March 14 through Mozambique and neighboring countries, many families remain in need, and without assistance.
It said that despite the concerted efforts of humanitarian agencies there is a lack of resources to repair and rebuild people's homes.
ION said latest figures indicate that more than 1.8 million people are in need, and nearly 240,000 houses were affected, half of those partially destroyed, and the other half, destroyed.
