29 June 2008
Addis Ababa — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday received a donation of US$ 589,970 (over 5,640 million Birr) from the Government of Greece, it said in a statement.
WFP said Greece had already become an increasingly important contributor to the UN agency's operations in Ethiopia and that this was the third of its kind in 2008 only.
The contribution directed to the Targeted Supplementary Food (TSF) component of WFP's Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation, which supports the Ethiopian Ministry of Health's Child Survival Initiative, is a unique programme designed to comprehensively address the immediate causes of malnutrition among children and pregnant and lactating women, according to the statement.
"Once again, we are extremely grateful to the Government of Greece for this timely contribution to assist some of the neediest people in Ethiopia," said Mr. Mohammed Diab, WFP Representative and Country Director.
"The contribution is extremely important as it enables WFP to provide continued support to tens of thousands of malnourished children and mothers in rural Ethiopia." The project is currently implemented in 163 food-insecure districts throughout the country by governmental and nongovernmental partners targeting malnourished lactating and pregnant women and children under 5 years of age.
The quarterly supplementary ration consists of 25 kg of fortified blended food and three litres of fortified vegetable oil.
"This constitutes Greece's renewed commitment and placing high importance on fighting under-nutrition in Ethiopia," said Greece ambassador to Ethiopia Michel Daratzikis, of who the statement said reiterated his country's confidence on WFP's operational modalities.
With all contributions of Greece in 2008, that amount to over US$1,500,00 (over Birr 14,400,000), WFP would be able to assist over 41,500 malnourished children and mothers for three months, the statement said
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