On the eve of World Food Day 2001 on 15th October, WFP Executive Director Catherine Bertini said research and decades of experience show that school feeding can immediately alleviate hunger, dramatically increase attendance, improve performance and ultimately help educate many more girls and boys. The World Food Program provides meals to more than 12 million school children in 54 countries, including Nepal. The largest provider of school meals in the developing world, the WFP has been feeding 250,000 children in public primary schools in 16 food deficit districts in Nepal. Recently, it extended the program to five more districts making a total of 21 districts. School children receive a midday hot meal made of fortified blended food (maize, wheat and soya), vegetable ghee, and sugar.