Saudi Arabia gives critical Guinea donation
02/19/07 -- WFP - WFP has thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a US$1
million donation to its operations in Guinea, where humanitarian needs have been
accentuated as a result of the current unrestthat comes at a time when many
people are struggling with loss of income and growing poverty rates.
“WFP is extremely grateful for this donation from Saudi Arabia, which has once
again shown that it is as anxious as we are to make sure that food reaches the
most needy,” said Philippe Guyon LeBouffy, WFP’s Country Director in Guinea.
Refugees from conflicts in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia have placed
added pressure on an already fragile economy in which living standards have
severely deteriorated and some 27 percent of the population now struggle with
extreme poverty.
Timely donation
“Guinea is a country rich in natural resources but is today experiencing dire
economic adversity. The Saudi donation is extremely timely and will help to get
the country back on its feet,” added LeBouffy.
In Guinea, WFP provides rations to some 20,000 refugees from Liberia and Cote
d’Ivoire and has helped many thousands more to return to Liberia since peace
returned to that country.
About 200,000 primary school students also benefit from school meals provided by
WFP. The agency also works to improve mother and child nutrition, and encourages
rural development through food-for-work projects.
Biggest donor
An increasingly significant donor to WFP operations, the Government of Saudi
Arabia has contributed nearly US$31 million last year alone, a tenfold increase
compared to 2005.
Saudi individuals and associations have donated nearly US$10 million over the
past two years.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is by far the biggest donor to WFP's global
activities and the Kingdom has become the 16th largest donor overall to the UN
food aid agency in 2006.
Generous support
WFP operations in Lebanon, Cambodia, the occupied Palestinian territory, and
Pakistan, as well as East and West Africa are among the recent beneficiaries of
generous Saudi support.
For example, in 2006, Saudi Arabia donated US$10 million to the West African
Sahel area to communities suffering from the tragic impact of drought, poverty
and conflict.
The funds went to WFP operations in eight countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali,
Niger, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
