Over 7.5 thsd low-income families in Jalal-Abad receive food aid

Bishkek, Jan. 21, 2019. /Kabar/. Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development Kamaldin Toktosartov and Head of the UN World Food Program (WFP) Office in Osh Luke Patenad visited Jalal-Abad oblast to analyze the effectiveness of joint site projects to help poor families, which are implementedin the framework of the UN WFP Country Strategic Plan for 2018-2022, approved by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The press service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development reported that representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the UN WFP met Deputy Governor in Jalal-Abad oblast Yrysbek Yzabekov and akims of all pilot regions to assess the results of joint site projects, learn about local development priorities and adjust work plans for 2019.

Over the past year, over 350 projects were implemented in Jalal-Abad oblast, in which more than 7,500 poor families received food aid in the form of fortified flour and seed oil. The total amount of food aid constituted more than 2,120 tons. And about 80 more low-income households received monetary aid for their work on infrastructure restoration and vocational training. In total, about 44 thousand people from the most vulnerable segments of the population of Jalal-Abad oblast were covered by food aid in the framework of joint projects of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and WFP.

The site projects carried out in Jalal-Abad oblast include repair and construction of irrigation systems, strengthening of river banks, construction and restoration of bridges and roads in villages, vocational training courses, and development of vegetable growing and handicrafts. In addition, 3 mini-workshops for the processing and production of agricultural products – production of dairy products, dried fruits, canned fruits and vegetables were opened in Jalal-Abad oblast.

The partners visited the plant for the production of dried fruit and fruit candies, opened in September 2018. The plant is equipped with modern production and packaging equipment, which allows it to produce up to 2 tons of diverse products per month (depending on the season).

Moreover, within the framework of the event, 8 sets of office equipment (desktop computers and multifunctional printers) were presented to 8 district departments of labor and social development and 9 pilot local authorities.