Saudi Dates Help WFP Deliver Ramadan Gift
KABUL – Thousands of the poorest Afghan families will be able to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan with an evening serving of delicious, nutritious dates thanks to a contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The donation of 85 metric tons of dried dates was formally handed over to WFP in Kabul on Monday at a ceremony attended by Mohammad Al Haqbani, Senior Officer of International Relations at the Ministry of Finance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Louis Imbleau, WFP Representative and Country Director for Afghanistan.
“WFP is our strongest partner, and we trust them,” said Al Haqbani. “Whenever we give WFP food to be distributed to needy people around the world, it’s as if we are distributing it ourselves.”
The dates are already pre-positioned in WFP’s Kabul and Kandahar warehouses and will soon be distributed to over 35,000 students in Kabul, Panjshir and Kandahar provinces.
“This is a wonderful gesture by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Imbleau. “ As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, Muslim families around the world are preparing for its rich traditions. Thousands of needy children and families will benefit from this contribution.”
The dates are not only a healthy snack for school children and their families, but are also a gift to help poor households celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. They will furthermore serve as an incentive for parents to send their children to school.
Since 2001, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has supported the World Food Programme globally with a yearly contribution of 4,000 metric tons of dates, from which vulnerable Afghans have benefited since 2003.
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About WFP
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.
WFP has been working in Afghanistan since 1963 with the aim of helping Afghans build a hunger-free future for themselves and their country. WFP food is distributed on the basis of need, without regard for ethnicity, religion or political affiliation. In 2012, WFP brought food assistance to nearly 6 million Afghans in all 34 provinces of the country.
WFP Afghanistan operates a feedback hotline number and welcomes comments, complaints and feedback regarding the distribution of WFP food assistance. Please call: 0790-555-544
Contact information:
Silke Buhr, WFP/Kabul, +93(0)706-004-882, silke.buhr@wfp.org
Wahidullah Amani, WFP/Kabul, +93(0)706-004-884, wahidullah.amani@wfp.org