Panafrican News Agency

Saudi Arabia supports WFP refugee operations in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) – The UN  World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday welcomed a contribution of 36 metric tons of nutritious dates worth US$ 88,437 from Saudi Arabia and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) to support refugees living in northwest Tanzania.

The consignment of dates will supplement WFP’s monthly food assistance to over 50,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under five years of age and  other vulnerable groups in Mtendeli, Nduta and Nyarugusu refugee camps of Kigoma Region.

Saudi Arabia's contribution comes at a time when WFP is facing significant funding gaps that has led to only 68 percent of humanitarian food being distributed to refugees in Tanzania.

“WFP is grateful to The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center for their continued support. We are very pleased that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains one of our valued donors in Tanzania, helping WFP reach the most vulnerable populations in need of food assistance,” said WFP Country Director and Representative Sarah Gordon-Gibson at a handover ceremony held at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Dar es Salaam.

Refugees are solely reliant on WFP to meet their basic food needs.

According to the UN agency, they receive a food basket that consists of Super cereal, pulses, salt, vegetable oil and fortified maize meal.  The distribution of dates will take place this month and provide more than 50,000 beneficiaries with much-needed healthy nutritients.  

Currently, WFP is assisting nearly 235,000 Burundian and Congolese refugees in the three refugee camps. Between now and June 2022, WFP is facing a funding shortfall of US$ 29.6 million for its refugee operations.

-0- PANA AR 29July2021