JEDDAH, 8 September 2006 — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabiawill give Ghana $1 million in assistance to provide food to the drought-hit regions of the country. The kingdom has promised other African countries $9m, Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday.

"The Saudi government has agreed to allocate $10 million to ensure the supply of food to the people affected by drought in African countries in coordination with the World Food Program which will identify the beneficiary countries," permanent representative of the Kingdom at the Arab League, Ambassador Ahmad Qattan, said in a statement to SPA in Cairo.

The aid will be distributed to Mauritania ($2 million), Niger ($2 million), Mali ($1.5 million), Senegal ($1 million), Ghana ($1 million) and Guinea Bissau ($500,000).

The ambassador added that $2 million had been allocated to the regional project for the relief work in Liberia and Sierra Leone and an agreement will be signed between the Saudi Finance Ministry and the World Food Program in Dakar for the immediate supply of food material by the end of this month so that it can benefit people during the month of Ramadan.

Qattan said a delegation from the Finance Ministry and the UN subsidiary will visit the affected countries.