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Spain
donates $5 mln to WFP's activities in Ethiopia last six months |
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 ADDIS
ABEBA(July 4,2008)
- The Spanish government has over the past six months donated over
five million USD to the World Food Programme (WFP) activities in the
country.
The announcement was made by the WFP and Spanish embassy in Addis
Ababa during a handing over ceremony of 1,000 metric tons of cereals
purchased from Spain's donation valued at Euro 500,000 that made to
WFP in December 2007.
The handing over ceremony was held at Mekidm, Arada sub city, Kebele
13/14 with the presence of the Spanish Ambassador, Carmen de la Pena,
WFP acting Country director, Miguel Barreto, HAPCO officials and the
beneficiaries.
In May, the government of Spain confirmed another donation of Euro
750,000 for the HIV/AIDS programme, which will be used to purchase
pulses fortified blended food and vegetable oil for distribution to
programme beneficiaries and also on the last month, June it donated
the same amount of money to assist malnourished children and pregnant
women and nursing mothers on WFP- targeted supplementary food programme
as an immediate response to the updated requirement of individuals
affected by drought in different parts of the country.
WFP Acting Country Director said during the handing over ceremony
that the Spanish government is one of the top donors of the WFP worldwide
adding that the government understands the importance of supporting
initiatives that provide nutritional assistance to those infected
and affected by HIV to help them cope with the impact of the illness.
The ambassador of Spain on her part expressed her country's commitment
to help and improve the conditions of the most vulnerable people in
Ethiopia.
The ambassador asked the beneficiaries about the importance of the
donation and if there was anything they would like to request some
other help from the Spanish government.
Some beneficiaries told the ambassador to assist them on educational
materials including uniforms for their children and for the orphans,
which the ambassador accepted right away, and even promised to work
with the Ethiopian government in that regard.
Dr. Mehrete-Selassie Menbere, Team leader of HIV/AIDS team with WFP-country
office here, said the donation would see the beneficiaries through
the next four months.
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