US food aid seen squeezed by Bush budget: NGOs

[Judi Lynn]

US food aid seen squeezed by Bush budget: NGOs
Tue Jan 31, 2006 2:06 PM ET

By Sophie Walker

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will not ask Congress to increase U.S. food aid when he presents his 2007 budget next week and some countries will be cut from donation programs to make funds go further, NGO sources said on Tuesday.

Bush is likely to ask for $1.15 billion in food aid donations, the same as this year and down some $500 million from 2003, said sources in nongovernmental organizations that combat hunger. The fiscal 2007 budget will be released next week.

"To fund the program adequately, $2 billion is needed, so a targeted program for vulnerable populations will continue, even while emergency needs continue to require about $1.5 billion each year," Ellen Levinson, executive director of the Washington-based Coalition for Food Aid, told Reuters.

"The upshot is that US AID is making plans to eliminate about 17 countries out of 32 for the food aid programs," added Levinson, whose coalition represents 16 nongovernmental organizations.
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http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-01-31T190631Z_01_N31407969_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH-BUDGET-FOOD.xml&archived=False

[acmavm]

1. Such a compassionate Christian (NOT)! n/t