DILI, 09 april 2022 (TATOLI) – The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) welcomed and appreciated the cash grants of US$1.5 million given by the government of Timor-Leste – a country in Southeast Asia, to support the people of Ukraine amid the humanitarian crisis following the invasion of february 24.
WFP Country Representative in Timor-Leste, Dageng Liu said that: “At this hour of greatest need, the donation will help WFP provide life-saving assistance to people in need both inside and outside of Ukraine.”
“We thank the Government of Timor-Leste for their generosity and solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” Dageng Liu said in a statement released on thursday.
Since the onset of the conflict, WFP has provided life-saving food assistance to more than one million people in Ukraine – a country in Eastern Europe.
WFP is scaling up its response, aiming to reach up to six million people in-country in the next three months and to support 300.000 refugees and asylum seekers who fled to neighboring countries.
The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Leite Magalhães emphasized that this donation is for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, including people who need urgent humanitarian assistance both inside and outside of Ukraine.
“As a country sharing a painful past caused by war and conflict, we understand the impact of the current crisis on the Ukrainian people. We hope our contribution can bring some relief to them,” he added.
On the other hand, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Juliao da Silva said that Timor-Leste is very concerned with the current situation in Ukraine. War and conflict benefit no one and lead to widespread suffering. We hope peace may soon prevail for Ukraine and its people.
The conflict is driving up already high food prices, threatening food security for millions of families across the globe. Global food and fuel prices have increased sharply since the onset of the conflict with the price of wheat up by 24 percent in less than one month. Food prices had already reached an all-time high in february as the conflict started.
The conflict has raised already high food prices, threatening food security for millions of families around the world. Global food and fuel prices have risen sharply since the start of the conflict with wheat prices rising 24 percent in less than a month. Food prices had hit all-time highs in February when the conflict began.
On march 9, the Government of Timor-Leste, through the meeting of the Council of Ministers approved a resolution to provide US$1.5 million to support the Ukrainians amid the invasion of Russia.
The US$1.5 million would be given to the World Food Program (WFP) to support food as humanitarian aid to Ukrainians during the war with Russia.
Previously, Timorese Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, expressed Timor-Leste’s solidarity with the people of Ukraine, saying the invasion of Russia on Ukraine’s national territory is unacceptable.
“On behalf of the Timorese people, I would like to manifest our solidarity with the Ukrainians who are currently defending their land, their right, and their independence against the invasion of Russia,” said Ruak.
Related news:Timorese Parliament unanimously approves draft resolution in favor of Ukraine
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
