WFP announces broaden access to school feeding in Iraq

 
Baghdad-INA
 
The World Food Programme(WFP) announced Saturday, broaden access to national school feeding in Iraq, while stressing the strengthening of capacities to implement the nutrition programme in 13 Iraqi governorates, WFP indicated that school meals will be provided to about half a million Iraqi students during 2022.
 
The representative of WFP in Iraq, Ali Reda Qureshi, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Both the United Nations World Food Programme and the Iraqi Ministry of Education, have agreed to broaden access to school feeding fully funded by the Iraqi government, which reflects the government's sober commitment to support children's education.
 
Qureshi added that "The Iraqi Ministry of Education is currently implementing the programme and providing school meals, while the World Food Programme continues to provide advice and technical and logistical support, based on the years of experience that the program has gained in implementing school feeding programs, after resuming face-to-face education in Iraq's schools for the current academic year since a long period from e-learning due to the spread of the Corona pandemic”.
 
He pointed out that "the Ministry of Education plans this year to support approximately 113,000 students in Sadr City in Baghdad, in addition to approximately 21,000 in Dhi Qar Governorate and about 50,000 in Basra, in addition to raising awareness of nutrition, health and hygiene that the World Food Programme will provide."
 
“Through joint cooperation with the Ministries of Education and Health, WFP has strengthened capacities to implement the program in 13 governorates and provide school meals to 449,000 students this year," he added.
Qureshi also explained that "This matter comes after concluding an agreement in 2021 to broaden access to school feeding activities to include 3.6 million Iraqi children in schools by the 2024-2025 school year."