Port-au-Prínce (Haiti) – Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, and the representative of the World Bank in Brazil, Ian Bannon, have signed an agreement to implant a school lunch program in Haiti in 2005. The program will benefit 35,000 elementary school students in poor neighborhoods.

Amorim pointed out that the agreement is the first in which a developing nation will assist another developing nation through the World Bank. "Obviously this will mean recognition of Brazil's humanitarian aid activities," said the minister.

The World Bank will contribute US$789,540 to the program. Brazil will contribute US$300,000 that will be used to pay Brazilian soldiers in Haiti who will distribute the lunches.

Meanwhile the Brazilian government has been setting up other bilateral projects with Haiti. A program to produce cassava will be funded with US$119,400 and run by the Brazilian Farm Research Corporation (Embrapa). In another project, Brazil has donated a mini-factory and US$121,680 for improving the production of cashew nuts.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Nelson Motta
Translator: Allen Bennett
12/21/2004