Russia and WFP in Tajikistan - unusual mix
This is the first time I hear that Russia donated a food aid to support the World Food Program’s operations in Tajikistan. I think it is an unusual thing. This program could never be associated with Russia. It is a strange mix. Usually Russia supports the military initiatives or big industrial projects (hydro-energy or gas) in the region or it donates aid through its agencies but never through IOs.
The United Nations World Food Programme today welcomed the final shipment of a US$2 million package of food aid donated by Russia to support the agency’s operations in Tajikistan.
More than that Russia has been one of the major contributors to the agency’s activity in the country. It has already donated several millions of dollars in the previous years, which is surprising. It comes second after the United States ($29 million) with its $8 million package since 2003 among the major donors.
Since 2003, the Russian Federation has contributed a total of US$8 million to support WFP’s operations in Tajikistan. For WFP’s overall programme, Russia has donated a total of US$33 million since 2004.
on March 13th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
It’s indeed quite unuausal especially since Russia has long been at the receiving end of aid (esp. for Chechnya). And until now it has not tried to anchor its influence in its former colonies with development cooperation like the English and French do.
I worked for WFP and in 2004, Russia was indeed on WFP’s list of so-called ‘non-traditional donors’ (the top traditional ones still are the US, ECHO, DFID and JICA), especially for food aid.
Other names in the list were China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey.
If you’re interested, here is a paper on the changing donorship landscape by the Humanitarian Policy Group: http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/papers/HPGBrief20.pdf
on March 13th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
tajik boy, what can you tell me about NGOs and real control? I’m working on a term paper and this site seems to have some real great information. if only the cut and paste Islamic nonsense wouldn’t clog it up.
on March 13th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
?!? Either you confuse me with Tajikboy or les you’re on the wrong thread.
on March 15th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Russia always had a big mouth on promissing millions and billions to invest in Tajikistan, while grabbing most of strategic facility and projects in tajikistan like Norak Space Observatory, Roghun power station project etc. shamelessly and with no price at all.
Russia always used bullying methods, for example it grabbed these facilities and projects in exchange of Tajikistan’s debt to its so-called “strategic partner” worth 250 million dolars.
It is not clear where this money is spent. It probably was spent on war which was enflamed by Russia itself. And despite the fact that Tajikistan came out of war just recently, this strategic partner grabbed her property with no shame.
If compared, USA’s humanitarian assistance over the last ten years is really more than 300 million. Russia never assisted Tajikistan and never granted anything, it only grabed and grabbed!
There might be some agenda behind its 2 million dollars to WFP, It will be probably added to Tajikistan’s debt to Russia.