World Food Program (WFP) Nepal wishes to disagree and argue certain statements made by James Shikwati in an interview from Der Spiegel reprinted in your paper ("For god's sake, please stop the aid", #255).

JS: 'WFP is a massive agency of apparatchiks.'
WFP is a United Nations development agency guided by humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality (to which transparency and accountability are often added). Therefore, it is not political but rather apolitical.

JS: 'WFP demands more money than the respective host governments' request.'
WFP estimated requirements are based on comprehensive food need assessments which are conducted by food security experts in consultation and coordination with host governments and relevant national civil society actors (ie NGOs).

JS: 'WFP assistance comes predominantly from highly subsidised European and American farmers.'
A large portion of WFP's global food purchases (69 percent) is made in developing countries. In Nepal, 85 percent of WFP food assistance is locally purchased from Nepali producers and suppliers.

JS: 'A portion of WFP assistance goes directly into the hands of unscrupulous politicians while another portion ends up on the black market.'
WFP's food assistance is entirely intended for its targeted beneficiaries, mainly hungry/poor rural populations. WFP has set up extensive monitoring and control mechanisms ensuring that the food reaches food insecure households. Such mechanisms also prevent WFP food assistance from being sold in markets. Less than 0.5 percent of WFP food assistance is misappropriated or ends up on markets.

WFP Nepal Country Office,
Patan