Starting next month, though, WFP says its food stocks in Goma will be almost exhausted. And because of the difficult logistics the next delivery of food, bought with a U.S. contribution of $30 million, will not be made until March or April 2014,
One of every 10 children in the country already suffers from acute malnutrition, and 6.3 million of the country's 66 million inhabitants face hunger and need food assistance, the agency said.
Byrs told reporters in Geneva the agency urgently needs $75 million to continue its plan, but without it some 500,000 people in North and South Kivu and Orientale provinces will be affected.
"The provision of daily hot meals to thousands of schoolchildren is likewise jeopardized, as is life-saving nutritional support to some 180,000 malnourished children, pregnant women and nursing mothers across the country," she said.
The U.N. agency said it also is talking with local and government leaders to find alternative ways of helping children, people with disabilities or chronic illness and others who are particularly vulnerable.