UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Saudi Arabia has made an unprecedented contribution of $500 million to the U.N. World Food Program to respond to rising food and fuel prices that threatened emergency aid to millions of needy people, the United Nations announced Friday.
The contribution was by far the largest response to the U.N. food agency's emergency appeal for $755 million to cover its increased costs.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "warmly welcomes the offer of the landmark contribution" from Saudi Arabia, U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said. "The secretary-general notes that this contribution of an unprecedented size and generosity comes not a moment too soon, given the needs of millions of people dependent on food rations."
The Saudi contribution means the agency, which operates the world's largest humanitarian program, will now have the $755 million it needs to carry on its activities without cutting the amount of food given to the world's needy, Okabe said.
Josette Sheeran, the agency's executive director, said donations actually topped the appeal target — reaching $960 million from 32 countries — which means WFP will have $205 million to use for other urgent needs.
"We turned to the world to help the hungry and the world has been generous," Sheeran said in a statement issued at the agency's Rome headquarters.
"The Saudi donation will help keep many people from dying, others from slipping into malnutrition and disease, and will even help to stave off civil unrest" over soaring food prices, she said.
According to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Saudi Arabia produces about 9 million barrels of oil a day, making it the largest oil producer in the world. Oil prices have now topped $130 a barrel.
Ban warned last month that the rapidly escalating global food crisis has reached emergency proportions and threatens to wipe out seven years of progress in the fight against global poverty.
The secretary-general echoed World Bank President Robert Zoellick's appeal to governments to quickly provide WFP with the $500 million in emergency aid it still needed by May 1.
He warned then that even if WFP's shortfall is met, more money will probably be needed because food and fuel prices are continuing to rise.
Ban has established a top-level task force to tackle the world food crisis. He has also invited all world leaders to join him at a summit in Rome from June 3-5 organized by the U.N. Food Agriculture Organization to work out a strategy to address and overcome the crisis.
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