Addis Ababa, March 21, 2003 (Addis Tribune):The United Nations World Food Programme announced on Monday that a donation from the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of 360 metric tons of dates to WFP for the Somali and Sudanese refugees living in camps in Ethiopia. The dates are valued at more than US$ 460,000 and are being distributed this month, the WFP said in a press release.
"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 Representatives in Ethiopia. "This is the third time 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. Enriched blended food is also distributed to those who are extremely vulnerable, through special feeding programmes.
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