Your daily Selection of IRIN Africa PlusNews reports, 6/26/2003

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U N I T E D N A T I O N S

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Integrated Regional Information Network

CONTENT:

1 - RWANDA: WFP supports 39 HIV/AIDS projects

1 - RWANDA: WFP supports 39 HIV/AIDS projects

KIGALI, 26 June (PLUSNEWS) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP), in

partnership with the Rwandan Ministry of Local Government, is running 39

projects in the country for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS,

WFP officials told PlusNews on Thursday.

WFP provides food for people affected by HIV/AIDS who are undergoing

vocational and basic life skills training in centres across the country.

The projects also provide training in management of income-generating

activities as well as peer support and counselling programmes.

Government officials and the WFP regional director, Holdbrook Arthur, who

is currently on a visit to Rwanda, toured on Thursday one such project in

Masaka, 20 km east of the capital, Kigali.

The Masaka project has 56 people running a hardware shop and making soap

from avocado and palm oil. Proceeds from the business are deposited at a

local health centre that provides free medical care to the 56 and members

of their families.

Country Representative son said WFP's food aid was to

strengthen the people's coping mechanism and to promote family and

community care of people affected by HIV/AIDS.

" Food assistance is essential in the fight against HIV/AIDS, " son

said. " Ensuring that sufferers who live in hunger-afflicted areas receive

food assistance is one of WFP's main priorities. "

He added that food aid could prolong the life of people living with AIDS

and hence allow them to continue earning an income and feeding their

families.

Arthur's visit to Masaka was part of a series of field visits to assess

the food security situation and WFP activities in the country.

" By providing food-for-assets and food-for-training, which helps people

acquire new skills and earn a better living, WFP can make a difference, "

son said. " This is how WFP can help people achieve self-reliance. "

[ENDS]

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