Iraq donates aid to UN food aid operation for flood victims

UNITED NATIONS: Iraq on Monday shipped 4,000 tons of wheat flour to Pakistan as its contribution to the UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) relief effort in support of people affected by the devastating floods that hit the country this summar.

The wheat flour consignment, which is worth $1.6 million, was shipped from the Um Qasr port in southern Iraq, a press release issued at UN Headquarters in New York said.

“We are most grateful for this contribution from the Iraqi people to their brothers and sisters in Pakistan especially during the harsh winter months,” said Edward Kallon, the WFP Representative and Country Director in Iraq.

“WFP welcomes the commitment and support that the Government has provided for our programmes inside Iraq and the extension of support to our work in other emergencies.”

Iraq is now the largest contributor to WFP projects fighting hunger inside Iraq, providing more than 50 per cent of the total funding required for school meals and food relief projects in the most vulnerable areas of the country.

This year, Iraq contributed $17 million to the national school-feeding programme that reaches over 500,000 primary school children. The Government of Luxembourg paid the cost of transporting the Iraqi-donated wheat flour to Pakistan, the press release said.