WFP Called on Donors for U.S. $4 million to Provide the NeediestFebruary 8, 2006 - 12:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - As bitterly cold weather keeps its grip on the Caucasus region, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that due to a lack of funding, it has run out of most food commodities for the 110,000 people it assists in Armenia. WFP urgently called on donors for more than US $4 million to provide the neediest with food aid over the next six months. Starting in early January, WFP has only been providing flour for 65,000 people, most of whom are rural primary school children and the elderly. While some 45,000 people, including 5,000 kindergarten children, received no assistance whatsoever last month. For the next six months - the most vulnerable in terms of food security - WFP needs 6,000 tons of food (or more than US$4 million) to complete its two-year operation in Armenia, which started in June 2004, costing about US$11 million. WFP's donors include Switzerland (US$1 million); United States (US$1 million); Sweden (US$534,119); Japan (US$340,000); Private (US$223,000); the Netherlands (US$152,010); Greece (US$135,686); Denmark (US$94,000); Canada (US$43,414). Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |