UN food agency welcomes first Russian donation to abate hunger in Tajikistan
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today announced the receipt of a pioneering contribution of $6 million
worth of wheat from Russia to the agency’s relief and recovery operation in Tajikistan.
“We welcome this first donation from the Russian Federation, which is a new donor to WFP. The confirmed contribution of
13,350 metric tonnes of wheat flour will cover almost 40 per cent of the 2006 food requirements,” said Daniela Owen,
WFP’s Country Director in Tajikistan.
Despite commercial imports and international food aid, access to food remains a major challenge in the country,
especially for approximately 350,000 people in rural areas, and an additional 700,000 with tenuous food supplies.
“There continues to be a large number of poor people in Tajikistan, who are not benefiting from the recent economic
growth in the country,” said Ms. Owen. "This Russian contribution enables WFP to continue providing assistance to the
most impoverished people living in food-insecure districts.”
According to WFP, this is the second Russian donation to the agency. The first ever Russian contribution of $11 million
was made in 2003 to help fund operations in Angola and the Democratic People Republic of Korea.