Poland makes its largest donation ever to WFP

WFP has heralded Poland’s largest single donation of US $1 million to its operations in Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia and Tanzania.

“Poland has been a steady supporter of our work for many years,” said WFP Deputy Executive Director for Fundraising and Communications, John Powell.

“This remarkably generous donation is a sign of Poland’s growing engagement in the international humanitarian community as a member of the European Union.”

This latest donation brings Poland’s contributions to WFP to a total of US $1.2 million in 2006 – a six-fold increase compared to last year. Poland has donated a total of US $2.8 million since 2000.

Afghanistan

Poland will give US $200,000 of the US $1 million to Afghanistan, where WFP aims to provide food to 3.5 million people each year in extremely tough and often dangerous circumstances.

Early snows have already cut off roads to some of the most remote locations, and drought and floods have rendered an additional 1.9 million people in need of aid.

Another US $200,000 will help WFP Angola transport essential food aid to thousands of school children struggling to regain their health and education after years of conflict.

Elections

While recent elections hold the promise of peace for the Democratic Republic of Congo, WFP’s work there will benefit greatly from US $200,000 from the Polish donation.

One and a half million people displaced by vicious fighting will still need assistance for some time.

The largest share of the contribution, US $300,000, is allocated to Georgia. More than 200,000 poor people there receive assistance, including the elderly and disabled through soup kitchens and the unemployed through food-for-work projects.

Beneficiaries also include 6,000 refugees from Chechnya and 5,000 internally displaced Georgians.

Source:alertnet.org,