UN begins new approach to distribute food aid in Haiti

The UN World Food Program has begun a new approach to distributing food aid to quake victims in Haiti, by delivering it directly to women. The aim is to stop the chaos in distribution.

Under the targeted approach the agencies fanned out across Port-au-Prince, distributing coupons to be redeemed for bags of rice at 16 sites.

The coupons were given mainly to women, the elderly and the disabled. Men could redeem coupons for women who were busy taking care of children or who otherwise could not make it.

Officials chose women because they're primary caregivers in most households and are less aggressive. Workers are handing out 1 thousand 700 sets of rations daily at each location. Each bag is intended to help feed a family of six for two weeks.

A woman smiles while carrying a sack of rice during a food distribution operation by an aid organization in Port-au-Prince, Sunday, Jan 31, 2010. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)