The Jakarta Post<\/p>\n
The government signed on Thursday a US$60.5 million grant with
\nUnited Nations' World Food Program (WFP) to provide food for the
\npoor, refugees and to finance food-security programs in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The letter of understanding (LOU) for the grant was signed by
\nKwik Kian Gie, the State Minister of National Development
\nPlanning\/Chairman of the National Development Planning Board
\n(Bappenas), and Mohammed Saleheen, WFP representative\/country
\ndirector, according to a statement from Bappenas.<\/p>\n
The $60.5 million grant consists of $37 million worth of
\ncommodities, including 172,800 tons of rice, 2,920 tons of beans,
\nand 1,460 tons of cooking oil.<\/p>\n
The program, which is called \"protracted relief and recovery
\noperation\", aims to feed poor families in Jakarta and its
\nsurrounding areas (Jabotabek), Surabaya and internally-displaced
\npeople in several provinces; to provide nutritional supplements
\nfor and nutrition education for babies and mothers; and to
\nfinance food-security advocacy programs.<\/p>\n
Some of the grant will also be used to strengthen the
\ncapability of local non-governmental organizations and
\ngovernments to handle the food crisis.<\/p>\n
Bappenas will act as the coordinator of the program, while the
\nexecution will be carried out by WFP and related departments.<\/p>\n
The statement however did not provide details on the timeframe
\nfor the implementation of the program.<\/p>\n
WFP also has a $65-million relief operation to feed the poor
\nin Jabotabek and Surabaya, as well as refugees in several
\nprovinces, helping babies and mothers for six months from July 1
\nto Dec. 31.<\/p>\n
Through this program, WFP supplies rice to 1.5 million urban
\npoor, gives rice to 300,000 internally displaced people as well
\nas blended food to children under two years of age and their
\nmothers.<\/p>\n
In 1998-1999, when Indonesia was hit by the economic crisis
\nand drought, the agency launched a $135.8 million aid program to
\nprovide food for the poor in rural and urban areas.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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