Russia donates Sh90 million wheat flour

By Philip Mwakio

 

The Russian Federation donated food worth Sh90 million to famine stricken families in the Horn of Africa.

The donation that comprised of 1,000 metric tonnes of wheat flour was handed over to the World Food Programme (WFP) Country Representative, Mr Koryun Olaverdyan in Mombasa.

The Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of State for Special Programmes in charge of strategic grain reserves, Mr Samson Palia Wangusi thanked the Russian Government for the donation.

 “We are grateful to the Russian Federation for this timely assistance which will go along way in feeding the hungry,’’ Wangusi said.

Close to 4.5 million people are in dire need of relief assistance in the country.

The Russian Federation contribution is donated by the Russia’s emergency management agency, Emercom.

It arrived at the port of Mombasa in two different shipments aboard MV Venice and S Zambezi respectively.

Mr Olaverdyan on his part described the Russian Federation as one of WFP’s  most important donors.

Deputy ambassador  at the Russian Embassy in Nairobi, Oleg Vlasov said the food contribution was Russia’s small way of helping Kenya.

“ It is our small attempt to fulfil this urgent requirement and we pledge to keep on giving needed assistance,’’ the envoy said.