01 June 2015
UAE - Ahead of the World Economic Forum MENA in Jordan, a delegation from MasterCard - led by Raghu Malhotra, Division President - Middle East and North Africa, MasterCard -visited Azraq camp with a team from the World Food Program (WFP) as part of a global collaboration between the two organizations. 

"We have a longstanding global partnership with WFP and share the vision that a world beyond cash builds a world beyond hunger. By combining our technical expertise with WFP's insight and reach, we are humbled to have been able to make a positive difference in Jordan," said Malhotra.

MasterCard and WFP announced their global partnership in September 2012 to help people around the world break the cycle of hunger and poverty through use of digital innovation.  The game-changing partnership combined MasterCard's expertise in electronic payments systems with WFP's global reach among the world's hungriest populations to meet the nutritional needs of the most vulnerable. As part of the program in Jordan, WFP distributes electronic cards ("e-cards") that can be used to purchase food and other staple items from local shops. These "e-cards" allow WFP to provide food assistance to the community to purchase their own food according to their needs and preferences.

Currently, there are close to 18,000 registered Syrians living in Azraq camp. Opened in April last year, the camp is located in the desert 100 kilometers east of the Jordanian capital, Amman. It is run by the Jordanian authorities with the support of UNHCR and its humanitarian partners and is capable of housing up to 55,000 refugees.

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About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard's products and solutions make everyday commerce activities - such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances - easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardMEA and @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

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© Press Release 2015