$50 Million in Milk Supplies Donated
U.S. Department of Agriculture Milk Supply Will Go to Over
Two Million Children in the Caribbean and Central America
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By Laura Kujawski - PNN Online - January 16, 2003
Deerfield Beach, FL - Food For The Poor, Inc., a large
international relief organization, has been awarded 24,120 metric
tons of U.S. nonfat dry milk by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to feed hungry children in the Caribbean and Central
America.
Over 53 million pounds of milk this year will help to nourish
starving children suffering from food shortages caused by
deteriorating economic conditions throughout the Caribbean
coupled with Central America's continuing coffee crisis.
Global record-low coffee prices together with severe drought have
devastated Central America's coffee industry and left millions
jobless and hungry. According to United Nations officials, many
thousands are suffering from severe malnutrition and will die if
they do not receive assistance. Over 8 million people are
currently affected by the massive food shortages.
This donation of milk will provide nourishment for more than two
million children in 14 countries for an entire year, and is
valued at nearly $50 million. Recipient countries include Belize,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, St.
Vincent and Trinidad.
The program provides for an extension of
two additional years of milk supplies. Food For The Poor will
monitor feeding programs in all recipient countries, where the
milk will be distributed.
The bulk of the milk will be targeted
to children in schools and orphanages and will also feed adults
in hospitals, mothers and children, homes for the elderly and the
homeless.
Monthly shipments of the non-fat dry milk, originating in US
ports, are expected to commence in early February and will arrive
in the recipient countries later in the month.
The USDA will
supply the milk and will pay for shipment costs to the port of
entry in the receiving country. Food For The Poor will be
responsible for wharf clearance, trucking, in-country storage,
transport and distribution. In addition, Food For The Poor will
monitor all the in-country distribution programs.
"We are very pleased to be working with Food for the Poor in
helping to alleviate hunger in the Caribbean and Central
America," said Mary T. Chambliss, Deputy Administrator, Export
Credits, U.S. Department of Agriculture. "There is no better way
to use our surplus supply of dry milk, than to share it with our
closest neighbors who are experiencing such a severe need."
Food For The Poor is an interdenominational Christian relief and
development organization that aids the destitute of the Caribbean
and Latin America.
For more information, see web site at
http://www.foodforthepoor.com/index.html
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