KAMPALA – The World Food Programme in Uganda (WFP) has received a boost in its quest to arrest global hunger and poverty following the receipt of a contribution worth 10m USD from the Russian Federation.
The Non-Government Organisation NGO has taken possession of fifty-three Kamaz trucks and ten trailers from the Federation on Wednesday, 31st, July 2019 at the Global Trotters warehouse Bweyogerere in Kampala.
According to the World Food Programme country representative El-Khidir Daloum, the trucks will increase the ability of WFP to respond to emergency situations especially in remote areas in Africa where the infrastructure facilities are in poor conditions.
“These trucks are therefore crucial to transport food to areas that are remote, insecure and lacking in infrastructure, where commercial transport capacity is lacking, “he said
He added that the aid highlights Uganda’s role to the humanitarian community as a strategic East and Central African region logistics hub.
World food programme Regional Fleet Manager Nobuyoshi KIDA, says that the trucks are strong enough and reliable to enable the transportation of support even in parts of Africa with very bad roads.
The fifty-three KAMAZ trucks which have a carriage capacity of 10-14 metric tons are part of the Russian global contribution to WFP this year of ninety-seven trucks and thirty trailers.
The Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees in the office of Prime Minister Hilary Onek lauded the Russian government for the support mentioning that” the support will boost Uganda’s humanitarian capacity”.
The trucks will be stationed at the WFP Regional Logistics Hub in Kampala and will assist the distribution and delivery of food items in East and Central Africa.
Automobile manufacturer KAMAZ will provide a three-year training programme to WFP fleet in Uganda including mechanics, workshop managers and drivers.
The United Nations World Food Programme currently operates in eighty countries globally feeding people caught in conflict and disasters.
The organization fights food insecurity and mitigates hunger in communities struck by war and catastrophies.
