The money, which follows an emergency WFP appeal on March 31 for 1.3 billion dollars for a "massive food operation" to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, will buy some 324,000 tonnes of food, according to the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

That amount of food is enough to feed 23 million Iraqis for one month, USAID administrator Andrew Natsios said.

"This new contribution reinforces the US government's commitment to meeting the humanitarian needs of the people of Iraq through our assistance program," he said in a statement.

"We intend to work hard to continue to increase the Iraqi people's access to food and health services," Natsios said.

The new donation will help provide food for Iraq until deliveries of humanitarian assistance under the UN oil-for-food program resume, USAID said.

In its March 31 appeal, the WFP said existing food reserves in Iraq would run out by May unless they were replenished.

Some 266,000 tonnes of US-donated wheat, rice, vegetable oil and other commodities is already on its way to Iraq and an additional 400,000 metric tons is available as a contingency option as needed, USAID said.

The total US contribution for food aid in Iraq now totals 590,000 tonnes worth about 375 million dollars and 60 million dollars in cash for costs associated with distribution, the agency said.

SPACE.WIRE