The U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide 119 million dollars to the U.N. World Food Programme for school meals in five countries in Asia and Africa.

The director of WFP’s Washington office said the donation by the agency demonstrates real leadership in reaching school-age children in the developing world with proper nutrition.

He is quoted as saying that school meals are the only food some children receive each day in many countries as he expressed his agency’s gratitute for the support.

The United States provides school meals funding through a competitive award process managed annually by USDA’s McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program.

Veronic Njie reports.