RUSSIAN CONTRIBUTION OF WHEAT FLOUR WORTH US$ 2 MILLION TO HELP WFP FIGHT HUNGER IN KENYA

By EMMANUEL BOAZ The World Food Programme (WFP) has received a contribution of wheat flour from the Russian Federation worth About Ksh 170 million. The contribution of Russian federation is to address two major challenges, including drought affected people and refugees. “this food donation will provided support to over half a million refugees in Kenya that support will be helpful to meet those in demand,” said the WFP representative and county director Ronald Sibanda. “50% of the contribution will also provide support to drought affected people in two ways that are to help people build resilience for future shocks and where necessary provide an outright relief for people who require support” Mr Sibanda added. 780 metric tons of wheat flour will benefit 2.2 million people mostly in arid and semi arid areas with food insecurity. 87,000 people in arid and semi arid areas will benefit in the aid meant to help respond to drought. 980 metric tones of wheat flour will go out to 78,000 refugees in the country. Over half a million refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps will benefit from the Programme. The deputy ambassador of Russia Mr Oleg Vlasov said that Russia federation is taking part actively in Kenya’s relief measures whereby they contributed 1 million dollars last year and they have further increased the amount to 2 million dollars this year. “There is progression in the contribution for food by the Russian embassy to support population with need of food in order to help them not to suffer from hunger.” Mr Vlasov said. The permanent secretary in the ministry of state for special programs Mr Andrew Mondoh said that mitigation factors are currently being put in place by the ministry of agriculture, Ministry of livestock and the ministry of arid and semi arid areas to put a long term measure to sort out food insecurity in the country. “Direct food donation may not provide long term solutions. Long term projects are being put in place; building dams and irrigation programs this will bring more land under irrigation in order not to rely on rain fed agriculture.” The PS said. Coast province, eastern province, north eastern province Rift Valley province are the provinces that are mostly affected by drought. Some areas of central province are also experiencing the stretch of arid and semi arid experiences. The democratic relation between the government of Kenya and the government of Russia was spoken about at length with both countries expected to celebrate the 50th anniversary of which the republic of Russia is the second state in the world to recognize kenya after the German democratic republic. “I hope the relationship will improve in the years to come and we will support to WFP with everything we have” ambassador Vlasov concluded. ends