Dagestani residents complain about cancellation of free food for needy children

Delays in provision of nutrition for children in needy families of Dagestan make from one to three months, stated the parents. The provision of children food is not funded in full; there is no money for that, said a source from the republic's Ministry of Public Health.

The message about problems with children food in Makhachkala has arrived at the SMS-service of the "Caucasian Knot". "Not knowing whom to address, I'm writing to you. In Makhachkala, namely, at No. 10 Ozyornaya Street, we receive no children food for the second month; they say they don't even know when we'll have it," wrote the author.

The parents, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, have confirmed that the provision of children food had been halted.

"For three months already they give nothing, saying that 'there's crisis and no funding’," Madina Alieva, a parent, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"It's a shame that the republic's authorities can't find money for the nutrition of children from low-income families; but, on the other hand, they always have funds to hold useless forums, congresses and other events," Rashid, a father of a needy family, told the "Caucasian Knot".

The situation with the provision of children nutrition is "deplorable", a source from the local Ministry of Public Health told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on conditions of anonymity.

"Even the amount of children food, requested by our Ministry, can't be financed in full by the Dagestani government. The budget, allocated for 2016, was partially spent to pay off the last year's debt. The rest of it was enough to buy food until June – no more funds available," said the source.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.