Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any shortfalls in the funding of the World Food Programme in Somalia, and of any impact of such shortfalls on the Programme's ability to provide assistance to those who need it in that country.

The food security and livelihood component of the UN's Somalia appeal, which includes World Food Programme (WFP) operations, is less than 45 per cent funded. Vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of this funding shortfall with 17 per cent of Somalis facing food insecurity. The UK remains a key humanitarian donor, including to the WFP. Last year in Somalia the UK reached 1.4 million people with humanitarian assistance including nearly 370,000 people with food aid. This year the UK will allocate £38 million in life-saving humanitarian aid. The UK continues to leverage its leadership role in Somalia to mobilise funding from across the international community to address critical needs and support longer-term resilience.