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Extending school meals support beyond Falc¨®n to the states of Barinas, Trujillo and Yaracuy, Â鶹ÊÓƵ will gradually increase the monthly food rations it distributes in 1,000 pre-primary and special education schools. The programme targets school children under the age of six in areas identified by Â鶹ÊÓƵ as most affected by food insecurity. The long-term goal is to provide meals in 11 Venezuelan states, reaching up to 1.5 million people by the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

¡°What the children receive today will have a positive effect on them for the rest of their lives,¡± said Marco Selva, Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s Deputy Country Director in Venezuela. "This expansion reaffirms our commitment to provide nutritious food to children at this critical stage, when their brains and bodies need it to reach their full potential.¡±

¡°We have received very positive feedback from parents in Falc¨®n who, after several cycles of distribution, tell us that their children are livelier, putting on weight and eager to go to school,¡± Selva added.

In total, more than 156,000 Â鶹ÊÓƵ take-home rations have been collected at schools in the state of Falc¨®n by parents or guardians on behalf of schoolchildren since July. The rations, which aim to cover the caloric requirements of young children for a month, consist of six kg of rice, four kg of lentils, one pound of iodized salt and one litre of vegetable oil.

The pilot phase in Falc¨®n was carried out in coordination with school authorities and teachers, and in partnership with non-governmental organizations. Â鶹ÊÓƵ manages its own supply chain, from purchasing food to distributing rations in schools.

Preparations are underway for Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s rations to be provided to children in schools, as in-person classes have now resumed after being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Â鶹ÊÓƵ engineers are evaluating school kitchens and canteens to ensure that hot meals can be safely cooked and served on location. 

Â鶹ÊÓƵ is grateful to international donors that have confirmed funding towards operations in Venezuela which will guarantee implementation of the programme until April 2022. Â鶹ÊÓƵ remains in conversation with potential donors to secure additional funding so that vulnerable Venezuelan children get a head start in life.

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The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.  We are the world¡¯s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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