On the occasion of the Food and Agriculture Organization's World Food Day, which is being

celebrated this year under the slogan "Youth Against Famine", Minister of Agriculture and

Water Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Muammar commented that young people between the ages of 15

and 24 constitute one-fifth of the world's population.  He praised the FAO's plan for youth

as recommended by the United Nations in 1995. Saudi Arabia has been contributing to the

organization's food program since 1963, to the amount of U.S. $391.5 million, which has

been distributed to those in need in 38 countries.  Dr. Muammar went on to remark that

Saudi Arabia also donates large quantities of dates.  In 1998 and 1999 the Kingdom provided

the FAO world food program with 4,000 tons of dates, plus $250,000 to cover the cost of

freighting them.

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