THE Canadian Government is to provide at least sh7.8b to the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide food assistance to the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people and refugees in Uganda, reports Joyce Namutebi.

The new donation brings to sh23.5b Canada’s contribution to the programme since it started in April 2005.

“This demonstrates Canada’s commitment to responding to such crises in a timely manner in order to help alleviate suffering and save lives,” said the Honourary Canadian Consul, D. S. Campbell, in a statement.

On April 1, WFP cut food rations for Uganda’s displaced people and refugees by 50% due to an acute shortage of funds.

The organisation needs $131m this year to support 1.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs), 182,000 refugees and 500,000 people affected by drought in Karamoja.

Canada has also donated sh3.1b to UNICEF to improve the quality of basic education in the conflict-affected areas of northern Uganda.

The Canadians responded to a request by the Government of Uganda to contribute to the Relief and Recovery Operation of the UN’s World Food Programme.

Campbell added that his government was also committed to child protection, promotion of equality between men and women and protecting children affected by conflict.