LUSAKA (Zambia), April 21 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The United States on Monday unveiled 5,000 tonnes of relief food assistance to support nearly 300,000 people in drought-stricken southern Madagascar, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
"Today's delivery demonstrates how US foreign assistance makes America safer by preventing instability around the world," Stephanie Arnold, charge d'affaires at the US Embassy in Madagascar, told President Michael Randrianirina during an official handover of the aid at the Port of Toliara, according to an embassy statement.
The food assistance, via the World Food Programme (WFP), directly supports 288,000 people facing severe food insecurity and acute malnutrition in the East African island nation.
"This shipment represents part of an US$11.65 million humanitarian assistance package provided by the United States in March 2026 to respond to food and nutritional needs in southern and southeastern Madagascar.
“This funding enabled WFP to procure 7,100 tonnes of food and nutritional assistance, and today's delivery represents the first batch of food supplies, with additional shipments expected soon," the embassy added.
Randrianirina expressed his gratitude to the US for this quick help, saying in a statement quoted by the presidency: "Madagascar is open to cooperation with the country and all other groups when the Malagasy people are at the forefront of this cooperation.”
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
