Money to fund WFP program for schoolchildren, “vulnerable laborers, farmers”
(Eagle News) — The Australian government has given more than P42 million in assistance to people affected by the Marawi crisis.
With the P42.7 million (AUD1.1 million), the World Food Program will be able to provide six months of school meals for 50,000 pupils, a joint statement from the WFP and the Australian embassy said.
Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely said in the statement that the “emergency school meals” will “support (the) students’ education and development.”
Stephen Gluning, WFP representative and country director, said it will also “enable students to continue their studies while being nourished with a daily meal.”
The statement added that the funding will also provide for the food of “nearly 23,000 households and 8,100 vulnerable laborers and farmers.”
“As a good friend and neighbor, Australia is committed to providing humanitarian assistance when necessary,” Gorely said.
In July 2017, Australia donated rice that was used to feed more than 57,000 primary and secondary students in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, the statement said.
Australia later contributed an additional P19 million (AUD500,000) to WFP, which “supported the general food distribution carried out by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” according to the statement.
“This provided rice to 11,000 households in Lanao del Sur from August to December 2017,” the statement said.