ADDIS ABABA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today received 1,513 metric tons of rice, valued at US$718,000 (more than 13 million Ethiopian birr), from the Government of Brazil to assist refugees living in various camps in Ethiopia.
The handover ceremony, which took place at the WFP warehouse in Nazareth, was attended by representatives from the embassies of Brazil and Norway, from the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) and from the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.
“WFP is grateful for Brazil’s noteworthy contribution and keen interest in helping refugees who are unable to support themselves,” said Abdou Dieng, WFP Representative and Country Director in Ethiopia. “We also appreciate the support given by the Norwegian and Swiss governments for the transportation and delivery of the food.”
Norway and Switzerland have agreed with WFP Ethiopia to use their contributions for costs associated with the delivery of the food to refugees.
“The Brazilian government recognises the challenges involved in feeding refugees,” said Isabel Cristina De Azevedo Heyvaert, Brazil’s ambassador to Ethiopia. “We expect to maintain this positive relationship and assist WFP in its endeavours to address food insecurity and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities,” she added.
Brazil has significantly increased its contributions to WFP in recent years, from US$1 million in 2007 to nearly US$83 million in 2012. Brazil has so far provided more than 23,000 metric tons of food, valued at $11.4 million (more than 214 million Ethiopian birr), to WFP’s operations in Ethiopia.
WFP Ethiopia is assisting 370,000 refugees who fled from Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea. The organisation aims to meet the basic nutritional needs of these families until conditions are ripe for them to return to their countries of origin.
Beneficiaries receive a monthly general food ration consisting of cereals, rice, fortified blended food, pulses, vegetable oil, sugar and iodised salt.
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):
Melese Awoke, WFP/Addis Ababa, Mob. +251 911 201 981
Clar Ni Chonghaile, WFP/Nairobi, Tel. + 254 707722105