Saudi Arabia makes $500m. contribution to World Food Program
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The United Nations has announced that Saudi Arabia has made an unprecedented contribution of $500 million to the UN World Food Program.
The contribution is a response to the UN food agency's emergency appeal for $755m. to combat rising food and fuel prices that threatened emergency aid to millions of needy people.
UN deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said Thursday that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the contribution "of an unprecedented size and generosity."
Okabe says the Saudi contribution means the Rome-based agency will have the US$755 million (€480 million) it needs to carry on its operations without cutting rations.