Saudi Arabia donates 200 tonnes of food supplies to displaced Malians - The Saudi government has donated 200 tonnes of food supplies to Mali intended for people in difficult nutritional situation and persons displaced from Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal regions, scenes of the war against Islamist rebels in northern Mali, PANA reported Tuesday, quoting sources close to the Ministry of of Humanitarian Action, Solidarity and the Elderly.
The sources said items donated included rice, adding that items like flour, sugar and cooking oil have been donated by other friendly countries like Algeria, Mauritania and Niger, to help in the management of humanitarian emergency.
According to the sources, the food supplies will bring relief to displaced persons, who are now settling down in the southern part of the country, and many others rooted in areas where fighting had taken place against Islamist insurgents.
They said the distribution of the items from Saudi Arabia will be supervised by the ministry in collaboration with the administrative authorities of the region of Mopti where most of the displaced persons have settled.
The Saudi King, Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saoud, has also mobilised US$ 4 million to support displaced Malians, including those who have taken refuge in neighbouring countries.
The Saudi Ambassador to Mali, Nahib Harbi, said the money will be paid to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in favour of the Malians.
Pana 13/02/2013