Saudi Arabia donates 68 metric tonnes dates to Nigeria

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, connected Monday, donated 69 metric tonnes of dates to susceptible populations successful Nigeria done the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

During the handover of the dates successful Abuja, the Country Director, WFP, Mr David Stevenson, commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the generous donation.

Stevenson said that the inclusion of dates successful the WFP’s nutrient assistance bundle enhanced some the prime and taste relevance of the support.

“These dates volition straight payment susceptible communities successful the Northeast, wherever nutrient insecurity remains a pressing challenge.

“The 68 metric tonnes of dates are planned to scope not little than 34,000 households (approximately 170,000 people), with each household receiving 2 kilograms of dates.

“Distribution volition instrumentality spot successful Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps crossed Borno State, tentatively earmarked for Damasak, Mafa, Dikwa and Damboa.

“We purpose to align the organisation with in-kind nutrient assistance cycles successful these locations, tentatively scheduled for October, November, and December,” helium said.

He said that the WFP would besides behaviour beneficiary sensitisation and state-level engagement to guarantee the dates are good received and appropriately utilised.

The state manager stated that the lawsuit served arsenic a symbolic testament to shared humanitarian values and the powerfulness of collaboration.

He stated that the WFP was arrogant to collaborate with the Nigerian authorities and planetary partners to present life-saving assistance.

“This year, we volition person reached adjacent to 1.5 cardinal of the astir susceptible populations successful Northern Nigeria, helping them code their astir urgent nutrient and nutrition needs.

“As we observe this meaningful partnership, we besides telephone connected different donors and partners to articulation america successful scaling up enactment for communities successful need,” said.

The Chargé D’Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mr Saad Fahad Almarri, said that the dates were donated done the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre to the WFP.

Almarri stated that it was besides portion of the country’s humanitarian assistance.

“Today’s handover represents our shared committedness to supply indispensable assistance, alleviation and nutrient information each implicit the world, particularly successful the North East of Nigeria.

“It is worthy to enactment that, since its inception, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has executed 3,690 projects successful 108 countries astatine astir 8.1 cardinal dollars.

“It includes, nutrient security, health, humanitarian and exigency relief, education, aboriginal recovery, charitable assistance, among others,” helium said.

He said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was committed to providing extended humanitarian enactment and assistance to the country, including nutrient baskets and enactment for IDPs.

Almarri said that determination were besides specialized healthcare programs, specified arsenic combating blindness and its causes, arsenic good arsenic open-heart surgeries.

He stated that they were aligned with the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to make a much equitable and inclusive aboriginal for all.

Almarri commended the WFP for its efforts successful providing humanitarian enactment to Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Sununu, said that the donation of dates was not conscionable a gift, but a awesome of compassion, concern and shared humanity.

Sununu, who was represented by the Director of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation successful the ministry, Hajiya Jummai Katagunm, reiterated his committedness to strengthening partnerships.

He said that the ministry would besides amended coordination and guarantee that interventions similar this were efficaciously integrated into broader strategies for resilience and stability.

“For galore susceptible households crossed the country, peculiarly those grappling with the interaction of conflict, displacement, poorness and nutrient insecurity, this interv...