Saudi Arabia donates dates for more than 130,000 WFP beneficiaries in Yemen

Two thirds of the donation (1,000 metric tons) will be distributed to 60,000 school-girls in WFP-targeted schools and the remaining 500 metric tons will support WFP's operation to assist 77,000 persons affected by the conflict in Sa'ada governorate.

"We are grateful for this generous donation from Saudi Arabia which comes at a time when the sharp increase of food prices locally and internationally is becoming a huge burden on the people and WFP's limited resources," said Mohamed El-Kouhene, WFP Representative in Yemen.

The documents of receipt were signed by Hussein Al-Malki, Representative of the Saudi Ministry of Finance, Saad Abdurrahman Al-Nasser, Acting Ambassador at the Saudi Embassy in Yemen, and El-Kouhene of WFP.

Hussein Al-Malki commented on the importance of such donation, stating that the primary aim of the Saudi aid is to enhance WFP's activities to fight poverty and hunger in the world.

The donation is part of the 4,000 metric tons of dates that Saudi Arabia annually donates to WFP's operations worldwide.

The total amount of donations from Saudi Arabia to WFP in 2007 reached $6.5m.

WFP Yemen is implementing a $47.8m four-year country programme to assist about 1.6 million Yemenis.

The programme aims to increase girls' access to education and improve the health of malnourished children under five, pregnant and lactating women and tuberculosis and leprosy patients.

The agency also provides food to 43,500 Somali refugees fleeing conflict in their country as well implementing another operation to assist 77,000 people displaced by conflict in Sa'ada governorate.