KHARTOUM: Saudi Arabia launched the King Salman program for iftar on Friday in Sudan and South Sudan with the distribution of dates and food. The event was coordinated by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance — represented by the religious attaché of the Kingdom’s embassy in Khartoum. Several officials were present including Sudan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Abdul Ati Ahmed Abbas, and Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Sudan Ali bin Hassan Jaafar. More than 15,000 food baskets and 10 tons of dates will be distributed during the holy month throughout the Sudanese states. The Sudanese minister praised the Kingdom for its aid programs that he said has benefitted many people across the globe. In Bangladesh, the ministry also distributed food baskets for more than 129,000 people, as well as 15 tons of dates for over 45,000 people. In attendance at the inauguration ceremony was Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa bin Yusuf Al-Dahilan, and the religious attaché at the embassy, Ali Al-Zgheibi. “Each basket contains 20 kilograms of various food items,” said the envoy. The Saudi ministry also distributed 800 Ramadan food baskets and 11 tons of dates for 8,000 beneficiaries in Ethiopia. Ethiopian officials thanked the Saudi government for this support. The Kingdom has this year launched projects in 34 countries to provide iftar meals for around 1.2 million people throughout the holy month, which began on April 2.