DILI, 14 july 2022 (TATOLI) – The World Food Program (WFP) handed over fortified rice and high-energy biscuits to the Civil Protection Authorities to support Timor-Leste’s Social Assistance Programs.
The fortified rice and the high-energy biscuits would be distributed to disaster-affected families across the country.
Fortified Rice is a blend of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) that is extruded rice-shaped kernels, made from rice flour, rich in vitamins and minerals, with raw rice in the ratio of 1:99 respectively. Fortified Rice is used to provide the essential vitamins and minerals required by the body.
With the support from the Government of Australia and the government of India, the National Logistic Center (CLN) is producing fortified rice in its warehouse, in Tibar.
Currently, more than 15 mts of blended fortified rice has been distributed by the civil protection authorities to flood-affected families and households in the seven southern municipalities – Viqueque, Manufahi, Manatuto, Covalima, Ainaro, Bononaro, and Lautem.
Recently, heavy rains flooded parts of the southern seven municipalities where more than 800 households were found to be affected until now.
“The 2000 tons of rice donated by the government of India will be fortified and then they will be sending for the social assistance programs over the country,” WFP Country Director Dagen Liu made comments at the handover ceremony, at the CLN’s Warehouse, in Tibar.
He said the donated rice was fortified with a blending machine procured by WFP: “This Chinese-made machine was purchased by WFP. It cost around US$24.000. I would like to take this opportunity to hand over this blending machine to CLN. We plan to work more closely and equip CLN’s other warehouse in the coming months to scale up this initiative.”
He said WFP’s technical assistance to CLN includes both infrastructural augmentation and technical capacity building for the production of fortified rice: “Now, the CLN’s team can run the machine themselves. So, WFP would like to congratulate CLN for taking this milestone move to produce fortified rice with their technicians and capacity.”
“WFP is thankful to the donor countries, including the Government of India, and Government of Australia for supporting WFP and the Government of Australia in initiating this much-needed nutrition initiative,” he said.
At the same place, the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins thanked WFP and Australia Government for the rice fortification.
“With the financial support given by the government of Australia, together with WFP and CLN, we fortified the donated rice given by the Government of India before distributing it to the disaster-affected families. I would also like to thank the Government of New Zealand for supporting us with the 38mts of HEBs,” Martins said.
He said the rice kernels were fortified with several micronutrients, such as zinc, iron, folic acid, and other B-complex vitamins (BI, B3, B6, and B12), and vitamin A.
Handover of High-Energy Biscuits (HEB)
With the support of the Government of New Zealand, WFP has also procured 38 tons of High-Energy Biscuits to be distributed to disaster-affected families.
“Apart from the fortified rice, today, together with the New Zealand Ambassador, Philip Hewitt, we hand over the 38mts of High-Energy Biscuits to the CPA to be distributed to the flood-affected families,” said Liu.
High-energy biscuits are ready-to-use biscuits, high in energy and protein, and supplemented with vitamins and minerals.
HEB is used to cover urgent needs in the acute phase of an emergency during which people are not able to cook as a result of a lack of access to basic facilities.
WFP coordinated with the State Secretary of Civil Protection regarding the handling, storing, and delivery of the 38 mts of HEBs.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
