Alfano: “Italy supports the WFP’s school canteen programme in Mali”

“Through the Italian Cooperation service, I have arranged for an immediate half-million-euro contribution to the World Food Program to fund a school canteen programme in Mali,” announced the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano. He continued: “The programmes promoting school canteens represent an important educational instrument by enabling minors to have at least one nutritious meal a day, relieving families from further expenses and favouring regular school attendance. The project falls under the UN humanitarian response plan for 2017 and focuses on the areas of Mopti, Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, targeting approximately 25,500 students in 140 schools, singled out in the areas most hard-hit by conflict and food insecurity”. Minister Alfano concluded: “This initiative does not exhaust our humanitarian commitment in Mali, where new programmes will be implemented in the upcoming months.”