Saudis Step In To Support WFP In Neglected West Africa

The United Nations World Food Programme today welcomed a
cash donation of US$10 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to
its operations in West Africa, where many of the poorest people in
the world are living under trying conditions.



The Saudi donation comes at a particularly crucial time for the
drought-prone Sahel, as the annual 'lean season' nears its end
people still struggle to feed their families until the next harvest.
Recent floods have also displaced thousands throughout the region,
making the delivery of food aid all the more pressing.



The gift is to be shared among eight countries: Ghana, Guinea
Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone.



"This is an extremely generous donation which comes at an important
time and is destined for some of the poorest countries in the world,
where millions of people still struggle each day to find the food
they need for a healthy diet," said WFP Regional Director for West
Africa, Mustapha Darboe. "Most of the time, West Africa is far from
the headlines, but we have absolutely crucial work to do here. This
contribution is a major boost to that effort."



Over half the funds are destined for the Sahel, where malnutrition
continues to take its toll amongst the most vulnerable young
children. Years of underdevelopment have left countries such as
Niger, Mauritania and Mali struggling to address chronic problems of
malnutrition in young children. This is a structural crisis that
made headlines last year in Niger, but will take many years to
reverse. However, the Saudi contributions to these countries (US$2
million each to Niger and Mauritania and US$1.5 million to Mali)
will bolster WFP efforts to bring relief in the short term and
encourage a more comprehensive long term solution.



The US$1 million allocated to Senegal will allow the purchase of
1,500 tons of rice, pulses and oil which will be distributed to the
most food-insecure households in the southern Casamance region,
including returned refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs),
orphans, physically disabled people, and more than 130,000 school
children.



A high-level Saudi delegation will undertake a four-day visit to WFP
operations in Senegal, Mauritania and Niger between September 19 and
22. The delegation is led by WFP Special Ambassador Abdulaziz
Arrukban, and includes senior officials from the Saudi Ministry of
Finance.



"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated millions of dollars
bilaterally or multilaterally to relief and development projects
over the last 30 years," said Arrukban. "The contributions to WFP
in West Africa are part of its ongoing commitment to helping
humanity through assisting those who need help most."



An increasingly significant donor to WFP operations worldwide, Saudi
Arabia has contributed nearly US$30 million this year alone. WFP
operations in Cambodia, the occupied Palestinian territories, the
Horn of Africa and Pakistan are among other recent beneficiaries..







WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: each year, we give
food to an average of 90 million poor people to meet their
nutritional needs, including 58 million hungry children, in at least
80 of the world's poorest countries. WFP -- We Feed People.



WFP Global School Feeding Campaign - For just 19 US cents a day, you
can help WFP give children in poor countries a healthy meal at
school - a gift of hope for a brighter future.


For further information please go to:
World Food Program WFP - We Feed People