http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={C98435B1-A92F-45BD-8277-D7ED412623EA}&language=EN

Venezuela Helps Mali

Caracas, Feb 2 (Prensa Latina) The World Food Program received about 800,000 US dollars donated by the Venezuelan government to fight famine in the Republic of Mali, Bolivariana de Noticias news agency reported Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Vice Minister to Africa Reinaldo Bolivar, signed the economic aid agreement with the international organization.

The president of Venezuela"s Social and Economic Development Bank, Edgar Hernández, and the WFP regional director to Latin America and the Caribbean Pedro Medrano attended the signing of the agreement.

Medrano explained that the donation responds to a multilateral call from several international organizations to alleviate the food crisis being suffered by West Africa.

The WFP official called Venezuela"s gesture an act of solidarity and said the Latin American country has conditions to collaborate.

He said that Caracas"s aid can also benefit over 120,000 inhabitants, mainly women and children who live in the poorest countries of West Africa.

Venezuela"s financial aid to Mali is in line with the nternational cooperation program being carried out by President Hugo Chavez.

In September, Caracas granted 1.5 million dollars to Niger, 1 million to Burkina Faso and 500,000 to Mauritania.

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