Australia Food
Department of State Washington File: Transcript: Food Aid to South Africa Aims to Prevent Famine, Natsios Says
NATSIOS: I don't think Zimbabwe is going to, with these policies, going to be exporting corn, even if there's generous rains for a very, very long time. But anyway, you're right. They did take that. And we developed an exchange agreement, which was finalized this week that -- actually, we didn't do it, the World Food Program did it. We have approved them doing it, but we are not signatories of the document. It is 17,000 tons of their food that is not biotech food that they're going to give us -- of maize -- and then we give them our 17,000 tons of biotech maize, and they will mill it. They're planning to mill their food anyway, so this is an exchange of our food for their -- our maize for their maize. They mill it at their own expense and distribute it through their mechanisms. We take the 17,000 tons of maize that they gave us and we distribute it through the NGO community and the UN. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: U.N. Food Agency Warns of Famine in Afghanistan
Rome, 25 October 2001 -- The deepening food crisis in Afghanistan is threatening Afghans with mass starvation, according a special report released today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The report warns that the food supply situation in countries bordering Afghanistan is also seriously undermined by a prolonged drought. "This year's food production in Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan has suffered a significant reduction due to serious drought. The unfavorable food supply situation, which has prompted emergency food assistance in some of these countries, therefore gives little comfort to millions of displaced and resident Afghans who in the past could meet part of their food needs with supplies from neighboring countries." ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: World Food Program to Cosponsor U.N. HIV/AIDS Program
WFP's added value is its vast network and outreach to poor, often marginalized people in developing countries, some ravaged by conflict and HIV/AIDS. "WFP has a unique role to play, especially in emergencies, by providing urgently-needed food aid to vulnerable people, particularly women and children," said Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director. "Ensuring a stable supply of food in homes and the community is a form of HIV prevention as it minimizes the risk of people engaging in risky behaviour in exchange for food." ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: World Food Program Seeks Continued Afghan Food Aid
Washington -- The head of the World Food Program (WFP) announced on February 5 that the agency is currently able to provide food relief to six million Afghans, but seeks $285 million in funds and food supplies in order to increase its reach to seven and a half million people. ... Other projects for 2002 include establishing food-for-work projects, such as construction of irrigation canals. WFP also hopes to provide food aid for women who attend literacy and skills training programs, and supply short-term food rations for civil servants who haven't been paid in many months. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Food and Agriculture Organization on World Food Supplies
Food emergencies leave an estimated 60 million people hungry in 33 countries, according to the latest global food survey conducted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). ... Elsewhere in Asia, the food supply situation remains tight in North Korea due to drought, economic difficulties and the coldest winter in decades. Armenia, Georgia and Tajikistan all face food supply problems because of last year's drought, according to the report. Altogether, 11 countries in Asia are reported to be facing food emergencies. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: WHO/FAO Press Release on Food Safety, Quality Issues
According to WHO, an estimated 2 million children die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by food and water. In addition, it is estimated that thousands of millions of cases of food-borne disease occur every year. Even in industrialized countries, it is estimated that one third of the population has a food-borne disease event every year, and up to 20 people per million die from such diseases. These estimates relate primarily to microbiological problems. If diseases stemming from chemical hazards in food are included, the total disease burden is even higher. ... [Read More]
Australia
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith. ... [Read More]
Australia (12/04)
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Transcript: United States Sends Food Assistance to Darfur
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Andrew S. Natsios announced that the agency's Office of Food for Peace approved a contribution of 31,700 metric tons of emergency food assistance for operations in Darfur, Sudan. The food aid, to be donated to the United Nations (UN) World Food Program, is valued at more than $30 million. ... The UN's World Food Program expects that the number of people in need of food assistance will rise to more than 2 million by the beginning of October. USAID's donation will allow mass shipments of staples such as corn soya blend, sorghum, split peas, lentils and vegetable oil. ... [Read More]
Frequently Asked Questions - General Information
The rules for mailing food to the United States changed in December 2003. The new ruling requires that commercial shippers who wish to send food to the U.S.A. must electronically file a prior notice with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A confirmation of the FDA receipt of prior notice must be presented to Australia Post along with the parcel. ... Although this ruling applies to non-commercial shippers as well, a revised Compliance Policy Guide issued 24 June 2004, states that "no action" will be taken if a non-commercial individual shipper sends food to either him/herself, another family member or a friend. This means that you may continue to send food products to the United States without completing the prior notice. ... [Read More]
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