The World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Cambodian government, has been providing a third-round food to poor households impacted by the COVID-19 in the country, said a joint press statement on Tuesday.
Approximately 39,653 primary school children and 1,643 school cooks from 41,296 households registered as IDPoor will be receiving 25 kg of rice, 1 liter of vegetable oil and 2 kg of canned fish from Oct. 13 to 24, the statement said.
The country-wide school closure in mid-March to curb the COVID-19 outbreak meant that poor children participating in the WFP-supported school meals program have not received nutritious school-based breakfast or lunch, it said.
"Studies have shown that nutritious meals increase students' concentration spans and help them study more effectively, contributing to better educational outcomes in addition to relieving the economic burden on households," the statement said.
WFP and the country's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports have together already distributed two rounds of Take Home Rations in April and June, it said, adding that in early November, the ministry will provide Take Home Rations to households from a further 205 schools participating in the national school feeding program.
The Southeast Asian nation has so far recorded a total of 283 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of Health said, adding that none have died and 278 have recovered.