KSrelief supports lifesaving WFP operations in Jordan, Pakistan

AMMAN — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) received a timely and generous contribution of $16.8 million from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to assist Syrian refugees in Jordan and to support nutrition programmes for women and children in Pakistan.

The contribution, signed in Rome by WFP Executive Director David Beasley and KSrelief’s Supervisor-General Abdullah Al Rabeeah came as WFP struggled to secure funds to support 465,000 vulnerable refugees in Jordan— most of them from Syria— and to assist more than 66,000 vulnerable children and women in Pakistan, according to a WFP statement.

A total of $12.8 million of the donation will be allocated to help meet the monthly food needs of 112,000 Syrian refugees living in camps in Jordan for four months and $4 million will support the WFP’s nutrition programmes in 14 of the most vulnerable districts in Pakistan.

KSrelief reconfirmed its commitment to join hands with WFP to address food insecurity and improve the health and living conditions of vulnerable communities around the world. 

Speaking from Rome where he addressed the opening session of WFP’s Executive Board meeting, Rabeeah said: “... It is our primary responsibility to come together and increase our efforts, to deploy more impactful and long-lasting sustainable solutions to fight hunger, restore dignity and provide hope.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating economic fallout have pushed the most vulnerable communities in Jordan and Pakistan deeper into poverty. Many of them are struggling to survive day-to-day. They cannot cope without assistance,” said Beasley. 

“We are grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people for this contribution which will allow WFP to continue providing vital support where it is needed most,” Beasley added.

In Jordan, the funds will enable WFP to continue providing monthly assistance to Syrian refugees living in Zaatari, Azraq and King Abdullah Park camps through food-restricted e-vouchers. These vouchers – operated with block chain technology – are loaded with JD23 ($32.49) per person each month, enabling families to buy their choice of food at camp supermarkets and bakeries. 

In Pakistan, the contribution will ensure integrated and lifesaving nutrition services to more than 66,000 acutely malnourished children under five and to pregnant and lactating women as part of WFP’s programme for community-based management of acute malnutrition. The services will be carried through the government’s primary health care system, using 186 health facilities.

The contribution will ensure specialised nutritious food is provided for vulnerable women and children in 14 priority districts for a period of one year. 

It will also strengthen the capacity to screen and treat malnutrition in community health care facilities and enhance the preparedness and safety measures fortargeted programmes to prevent malnutrition, the statement said.

The strong partnership between WFP and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia goes back to 1973 and witnessed a historic transformation with the establishment of KSrelief in 2015, the statement said.

Since its inception, KSrelief has contributed $1.23 billion to WFP for food assistance programmes in 24 countries.