Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The US ambassador in Dhaka has announced $26 million for Bangladesh’s school feeding programme.
The funds will be available through the UN and World Food Programme (WFP) that distributes “nutritious” biscuits to primary school students.
Announcing the US Department of Agriculture’s commitment, envoy Dan Mozena said at Hashilkandi Government Primary School in Gaibanda District that the US funds would benefit 130,000 school children in the poorest areas, said a press release of US embassy.
On Wednesday, he said the contribution was part of the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.
The envoy is now visiting the Gaibanda District.
Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Mostafizur Rahman and WFP Representative Christa Räder were present. “USDA (department of agriculture) has been a reliable partner and donor to school feeding in Bangladesh since the programme’s inception in 2001,” Räder said at the school.
According to a UN embassy media release, WFP supports 1 million children in primary and pre-primary schools across Bangladesh while the government of Bangladesh reaches 1.8 million.
The students receive “vitamin-and mineral-enriched” biscuits every day at school. All the biscuits are produced in Bangladesh, according to the media release.
“Distributions of nutritious food at school encourage children to come to class as well as ensure support fron their parents, which in turn improves enrolment and attendance rates,” it said.
“Such food also alleviates short-term hunger, helping children to concentrate better on their lessons, while providing them with crucial vitamins and minerals which might otherwise be lacking in their diet,” added the media release.
Since 2001, US agriculture department has contributed more than $78 million, including 150,000 metric tons of wheat to school feeding in Bangladesh through WFP, according to the US embassy.
BBN/AS/AD/01Mar14-12:20am
