Saudi Arabia Donates Dates For Eid Al-Adha To Syrian Refugees In Zaatari Camp, Jordan
AMMAN – Syrian refugees living in Zaatari camp in northern Jordan are this week receiving from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) a second ration of dates that were donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ahead of the holy feast.
Before the Eid Al-Adha celebration, WFP distributed two kilograms of dates to each family in Zaatari camp so that they would have this traditional treat to share with family, friends and guests during the holidays.
“The dates are delicious and very good quality. It was such a relief to have something extra to share with everyone who came to visit us,” said Um Mimyesser, a Syrian refugee from Deraa who has been living in Zaatari for over a year. “I was worried that I would only be able to offer tea, but the dates made me feel proud to welcome my guests.”
Due to the generous quantity of 100 tons of dates donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, WFP is currently distributing a second round of two kilograms of dates to each family in Zaatari camp.
“WFP is extremely grateful for this valuable support. This is not the first time that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has generously assisted Syrian refugees in Jordan,” said Jonathan Campbell, WFP Emergency Coordinator in Jordan. “For the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Relief Committee also donated food packages to every family in Zaatari camp. This Ramadan gift contained 18 special food items, including olive oil and dates, the traditional food to break the daily fast.”
WFP looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a champion in the fight against hunger and a global leader for development and humanitarian relief efforts. Through five decades of partnership with WFP, Saudi Arabia has contributed over US$1 billion. In 2008, at the height of the food crisis, Saudi Arabia donated US$500 million to WFP – the single largest cash donation ever made to a UN agency.
Since 2011, WFP has been providing food assistance to the growing number of Syrian refugees in Jordan. Over 450,000 Syrian refugees living in camps and communities across the country are receiving monthly WFP food vouchers that can be used to purchase a variety of food items from local shops. In Zaatari camp, refugees are still receiving a portion of their food assistance as rations, including the daily provision of fresh bread. WFP distributes, on average, half a million portions of fresh bread in the camp every day.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Last year, WFP reached more than 97 million people in 80 countries with food assistance.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Dina El-Kassaby, WFP/Amman, Tel. +962 6 515 4009 Mob. +962 7 9867 4638
Laure Chadraoui, WFP/Beirut, Mob. +961 3 489 925
