Saudis Donate $500M for Food Crisis

Saudi Arabia has donated a half-billion dollars to the UN’s World Food Program to help alleviate the current global food crisis, AP reports. By giving the money to the UN, the Saudis avoid criticism for trying to buy favor on the bodies of starving people, or any other negative cast some would like to give. The money, an unprecedented donation, will be used both for operational expenses and to procure foodstuffs.

Saudi Arabia makes unprecedented US$ 500M contribution to UN for food crisis
EDITH M. LEDERER

UNITED NATIONS - Saudi Arabia has made an unprecedented contribution of US$500 million to the U.N. World Food Program to respond to rising food and fuel prices that threatened emergency aid to millions of needy people, the United Nations announced Friday.

The contribution was by far the largest response to the U.N. food agency’s emergency appeal for US$755 million to cover its increased costs.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “warmly welcomes the offer of the landmark contribution” from Saudi Arabia, U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said. “The secretary-general notes that this contribution of an unprecedented size and generosity comes not a moment too soon, given the needs of millions of people dependent on food rations.”
Source : xrdarabia.org