ROME, Italy (AFP) — The United Nations (UN) food aid agency, which has been hit hard by steep European and United States (US) funding cuts, on Wednesday welcomed a US$800 million contribution from the United States.

The World Food Programme (WFP), in a statement, said the funds would support “life-saving food and nutrition operations to reach more than 38 million of the most vulnerable across at least 37 countries”.

The Rome-based WFP said earlier this month it was facing a deep shortfall in its funding at a time of acute need.