How Saudi dates raise hopes to WFP in nutrition provision

DAR ES SALAAM: WHICHEVER way you will look at it, Dar es Salaam Port will still continue to play a big role in facilitating transportation of goods and services within and outside the country.

Renowned for its splendid services, it serves many landlinked countries like Zambia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe, which significantly shows how potential the port is a force to reckon with in linking them to the outside world through the sea.

In this regard, it is encouraging to see that government is investing a lot at the port to facilitate its service delivery which is recommendable basing on the fact that it supports many countries.

The Port also serves as central point for the World Food Programme (WFP) operations and just recently, it received a consignment of 25 metric tonnes of dates from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has always been on the front seat to ensuring that it provides the much-needed humanitarian food support wherever it is required.

Here in quick analysis, WFP is the largest humanitarian organization saving and changing lives, especially to the refugees worldwide, hence, it continues to play a very critical role in making sure that they are reached with food supplies.

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In her welcoming remarks to the consignment, WFP Country Director and Representative Sarah Gordon-Gibson said the donation will supplement their monthly food assistance for nearly 200,000 Burundian and Congolese refugees in Nyarugusu and Nduta Refugee Camps in Kigoma Region.

She added that dates are healthy and very nutritious, hence, they will improve the nutritional intake to the vulnerable groups such as pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as those hospitalized.

“This donation comes at a critical time when the World Food Programme is facing significant funding gaps that has led to only 60 percent of the required kilocalories being provided to refugees. “We are grateful to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center for the support,” she said.

She further highlighted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the World Food Programme have been longstanding partners, supporting operations all over the world to save lives and change lives…it is our hope that in Tanzania, we will be able to expand our partnership to other interventions which will benefit communities in need.

Moreover, she gave credit to the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) saying they are their critical partner, facilitating movement of humanitarian cargo and enabling the WFP’s food assistance to reach those most in need.

“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank TPA for all the unwavering support,” she concluded.

On his part, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Tanzania, Yahya Okeish revealed that he was pleased to handover the consignment on behalf of the Saudi Arabia.

“The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always provided support and assistance to those in need around the world, sensing of its responsibilities and based on its humanitarian commitment. Whereby the total documented Saudi Aid until now has reached more than (108) billion US dollars, from which (169) countries around the world have benefited. While the number of projects implemented has reached (6,898) humanitarian, relief, development, and charitable projects. “With the multiplicity of projects and diversity of needs, my government decided to establish a center to manage and coordinate relief work at the international level, to ensure the provision of support to the affected groups,” he said.

Hence, the establishment of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center was announced in 2015, to be a pioneering center for relief and humanitarian work and conveying our values to the World.

“Its core tasks include building a team of excellent and professional employees, developing, and sponsoring national volunteer programs, now reaching to more than (60) thousand volunteers registered in the center; developing partnerships with leading organizations in humanitarian work, and developing effective mechanisms that ensure rapid response to dealing with Humanitarian crises,” he said.

The strong partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations World Food Program goes back to 1973.The United Nations World Food Program has been one of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s strongest and most effective partners in addressing challenges caused by hunger, food insecurity and the devastating effects of malnutrition.

Since its inception until 2021, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid Relief Center has contributed US dollars 1.23 billion to the World Food Program for food assistance programmes in 24 countries, and the Center has been able to reach (99) countries implementing (2,894) humanitarian and relief projects around the world with a value exceeding (6) billion US dollars, in cooperation with (180) United Nations and international partners, targeting the most critical vital sectors such as food, education, health, nutrition, water, environmental sanitation, shelter, and others.

“Once again, I would like to thank the World Food programme office in Tanzania for its assistance in delivering these dates to the beneficiaries in the refugees’ camp in Kigoma,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree, which is grown in many tropical regions of the world. Dates have become quite popular in recent years. You can tell whether or not dates are dried based on their appearance.

Wrinkled skin indicates they are dried, whereas smooth skin indicates freshness. Depending on the variety, fresh dates are fairly small in size and range in color from bright red to bright yellow. Commonly consumed varieties include Medjool and Deglet Noor dates. Dates are chewy with a sweet flavor. They are also high in some important nutrients and have a variety of advantages and uses.