Saudi Arabia donates dates to WFP for Somali and Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA - The United Nations
World Food Programme today announced a donation from the Royal Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia of 360metric tons of dates to WFP for the Somali and Sudanese
refugees living in camps in Ethiopia. The dates are valued at more than
US$ 450,000 and are being distributed this month.
"This is a very generous contribution
and we are very grateful to the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for providing
a food item that compliments and varies the refugees' diet," said
Ms. Georgia Shaver, WFP Country Representative in Ethiopia. "This
is the thirdtime that the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia donates dates to
refugees in Ethiopia".
"This particular donation illustrates the commitment of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be among the first countries providing humanitarian assistance to people in need throughout the world," said Salah Ahmed Sarhan, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Ethiopia. "This contribution reflects also the good relations between the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia".
In Ethiopia, WFP works with UNHCR to assist over 127,000 Somali and Sudanese refugees living in camps along the Somali and Sudanese borders.WFP provides these refugees with access to basic food to meet their nutritional requirements until they can feed themselves or are repatriated.
WFP refugees' food assistance consists of cereals, salt, oil and sugar. Enrichedblended foodis also distributed to those who are extremely vulnerable, throughspecial feeding programmes.
Note to media: photographs of dates distributions to refugees are available to journalists by contacting Wagdi Othman, Tel.: +251-9-201976, wagdi.othman@wfp.org
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency. Every year WFP feeds around 80 million people in 82 countries including most of the world's refugees and internally displaced people.
WFP Global School Feeding Campaign - As the largest provider of nutritious meals to poor school children, WFP has launched a global campaign aimed at ensuring the world's 300 million undernourished children are educated.
For more information please contact:
Wagdi Othman, WFP Public Information Officer, Ethiopia, Tel.:+251-9-201976,e-mail:
wagdi.othman@wfp.org