The Embassy of the Russian Federation and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) handed over 68 MT of fortified wheat flour, 117 MT of fortified sunflower oil and 202 MT of peas to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan during an official ceremony. Another 877 MT of flour will arrive in Dushanbe in the upcoming future. The remaining part of the shipment - more than 1,348 MT of flour, 135 MT of peas and more than 60 MT of sunflower oil - has been delivered to Sughd Region. Taking this into account, the total volume of Russian food aid this year will amount 4,500 MT.

The ceremony was attended by First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan Jurazoda Jamshed Habibullo, Minister Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Tajikistan Vera Valerievna Khutorskaya, Representative and Country Director of WFP in Tajikistan Adham Musallam.

"We are handing over to our Tajik partners a substantial amount of food aid - 4,500 MT. However, it stands for just a part of a very significant and comprehensive programme. However, it stands for just a part of a very significant and comprehensive programme. It highlights the importance with which Russia refers to the younger generation of brotherly Tajikistan in accordance with the spirit of strategic partnership and allied relations that bind our countries together," V.V.Khutorskaya stressed in her speech.

"Thanks to close cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and continuous support from the Russian Federation, the implementation of the National School Feeding Programme contributes not only to improving the nutrition and health of schoolchildren, but also to expanding access to education and achieving further academic success," said Adham Musallam.

The issues of food security, school meals and preparedness for the upcoming beginning of the school year in schools were also discussed during the ceremony.

The School Feeding Programme is the biggest operation of the UN WFP in Tajikistan, being financed by the Russian Federation since 2013. In the framework of the School Feeding Programme, about 450 000 schoolchildren in  2000 schools in 52 districts and cities of the Republic receive hot meals. Furthermore, under the School Feeding Programme, 50 school canteens were renovated and equipped with modern appliances, on the basis of which nine greenhouses, five inter-school bakeries and one food factory operate. In addition, seven private bakeries, working with schools, have been equipped.

Since 2013 the Russian Federation has allocated $86.1 million, including $58 million for the food assistance and $28.1 million for the infrastructural modernisation to implement the School Feeding Programme in Tajikistan.

Russia is a strategic partner of Tajikistan in the area of development and providing humanitarian aid.

UN World Food Programme has been in collaboration with the Republic of Tajikistan since 1999 aiming at improving the national school feeding system. It reflects a strong dedication of WFP towards improving the lives of people of the Republic of Tajikistan. Providing healthy meals for the schoolchildren contributes not only to advancing the nutrition and health, but also opens a wide access to education.