Saudi Arabia provides boost for 30,000 women and children in Syria

"We are grateful for this timely and generous donation from Saudi Arabia, which will be used to help nourish thousands of schoolchildren and women in rural areas. We highly appreciate Saudi Arabia's longstanding support for development projects in Syria and investment in people," said Adham Musallam, acting WFP Syria Country Director.

The official handover ceremony will take place at WFP Damascus office today in the presence of H.E. Faleh Bin Mohammad Al Rouhaily, Charge d'Affaires at Saudi Arabia's Embassy, Mr. Mohammad Al Hakabani, Representative of Saudi Ministry of Finance and WFP's Adham Musallam.

The dates will be distributed as food rations to primary school students and illiterate rural women to encourage them to attend school, as part of WFP's Food-for-Education programme. The programme's first year will target around 23,000 students and 7,000 rural women.

WFP's three-year programme in Syria aims to provide food assistance to some 285,000 women and children in marginalized and food-insecure areas of the country, at a total cost of US$6.7 million. Until this latest contribution from Saudi Arabia, the operation was facing a 91 percent shortfall in funding.

Saudi Arabia is an increasingly important contributor to WFP operations worldwide. It donated about US$57 million between 2000 and 2007.

This latest donation to Syria is part of a 4,000 metric ton donation of dates that Saudi Arabia makes to WFP's operations every year.