The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said Tuesday it had received a 31-million-dollar donation from the United Arab Emirates. WFP says it aims to provide emergency food aid to around 7 million refugees and internally displaced people, but last month the Rome-based agency said it had to cut rations by 20 per cent because of budget shortfalls. "We are very grateful for this extremely timely contribution from the United Arab Emirates government," WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin said. "You are saving lives of innocent children, vulnerable men and women," she added.