COLOMBO – Nearly 170 schools in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in Northern Sri Lanka have received new kitchen utensils, bowls and spoons from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) to supplement the school meals programmes implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The grant of Sri Lankan Rupees 2.4 million (US$ 18,200) is part of GIZ’s efforts to help reintegrate internally displaced people in the Vanni Region, and will benefit more than 32,000 children.
“WFP’s school meals programme provides a hot mid-morning meal for some 160,000 school children in the northern, resettled part of the country. These kids are eager to resume their studies after years of disruption. Having the right utensils for cooking and serving food for the children will add value to our programme,” said Kathy Derore, Head of Programme for WFP Sri Lanka.
“WFP is grateful to GIZ for two consecutive donations to improve the school meals programme in the North. Such consistency is vital for the sustainability of the programme. ”
“We, GIZ and WFP, work together in school support programmes targeting areas with a high level of food insecurity. The current programme assisting school children in the North of Sri Lanka is one example of many worldwide. We have learned precious lessons from our past collaboration that could be used to achieve sustainable solutions,” said Randa Kourieh-Ranarivelo, Country Director of GIZ Sri Lanka.
GIZ is a long-standing partner of WFP in developing food security and building resilience among the vulnerable communities affected by the three decades of conflict in the country.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Last year, WFP reached more than 97 million people in 80 countries with food assistance.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): Diluka Piyasena, WFP/ Sri Lanka, Tel. +94 11 4 740350/1/3, Cell + 94 07731 78244 For more information on WFP activities: https://www.wfp.org/countries/sri-lanka