World Food Program to stop operating in Azerbaijan

The due announcement was made by Ali Hasanov, chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs.

He said the World Food Program, rendering aid to the internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan, will stop operating in the country on June 30.

Hasanov noted that by request of the leadership the World Food Program has prolonged the activity in Azerbaijan for three times.

"Yet some opposition newspaper spread false information about suspension of its operation due to the so-called incorrect distribution of food in Azerbaijan and so on. At least, the reasons of their quitting the country can be asked from the organization itself.

The chairman of the committee for refugees and IDPs also announced that within 15 years the World Food Program alloted 165,000 tons of food in the amount of $115,000,000 to Azerbaijani IDPs

In turn, UN resident coordinator Bruno Pueza noted that the rapid price hike on the world market made the state combat with the rise in prices.

He said by the end of 2008 the annual cost of the living basket may exceed the indicator for 2000 by four times. Pueza also voiced US readiness to assist Azerbaijan in ensuring food security.

The program coordinator in Azerbaijan Linn Miller added that the program will further render assistance to the country.

"We stop our operation here, but we intend to create a monitoring system. We see that the Azerbaijani government is also interested in it".

/APA/