RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT PROVIDES HUMANITARIAN FOOD ASSISTANCE TO AZERBAIJANI IDPS AND REFUGEES
The Government of the Russian Federation has provided $2 million in humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons.
In connection with the food aid delivery, Ali Hasanov, chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, and chief of the Commission for International Humanitarian Aid, met Wednesday with Vasiliy Istratov, Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Lynne Miller, World Food Programme’s Country Director in Azerbaijan.
Ali Hasanov hailed this assistance, saying the humanitarian aid, 2,016 tons of flour, 218 tons of vegetable oil, is Russia’s contribution to the UN World Food Programme.
The amount of humanitarian aid to Azerbaijani IDPs is gradually decreasing because of rising economic power of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan will be able to render humanitarian assistance to poor countries in the future.
Russian ambassador said the aid was delivered by Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. Istratov noted that Azerbaijan suffered more than other post-soviet republics after the dissolution of the USSR. He said he hopes that assistance will be continued in the future.
Miller said humanitarian aid received in Mingachevir with participation of the representative of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies Nikolay Zelenyukin would be distributed on January 10 to refugees and IDPs in the Shirvanly village of Barda.