Answer: Last year, the World Bank put in place a special global food security facility. It is a program of food aid in times of crisis for the total amount of $1.2 billion, of which $1 billion provided by the World Band and the remaining $200 million being provided as cofinancing. Funds are coming from Australia, the EU and Russia. Russia has already allocated $15 million to support implementation of this initiative in Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic. The World Bank appreciates Russia's contribution.

In parallel to this facility, the World Bank has created another program - the Rapid Social Response Program. In the framework of this program the Bank provides assistance to countries that have been most affected by the global financial crisis, in particular to enhance social safety net programs, access to social services, and to mitigate the labor market problems. The World Bank appreciates Russia's support to the initiative and its contribution to the Program in the amount of $50 million, which was announced in April this year. Actually, these two funds are aimed to address similar tasks.