Saudi Arabia donates 60000 T of rice to Bangladesh

by Reuters

DHAKA, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Bangladesh said on Monday it had received 60,000 tonnes of rice donated by Saudi Arabia for distribution among people affected by recent floods.

"The rice will be distributed among 2.1 million flood-affected families beginning from Tuesday," Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain told reporters after hosting a visiting Saudi Arabian official.

The rice is part of a $50 million donation promised earlier by Saudi Arabia, he said.

Saudi Arabia also sent five cargo planes loaded with foodstuffs, blankets, tents, medicines and milk powder in August.

Monsoon floods that swept much of the country in July-August killed more than 1,000 people, made millions homeless and damaged rice crops, officials have said.