WASHINGTON, Oct 5   - The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Wednesday it will donate 12,000 tonnes of wheat to Lebanon to help finance child education and nutrition programs in the country.

The wheat, valued at $6.7 million, will be donated to the International Orthodox Christian Charities, Inc. The private organization will use 2,000 tonnes of wheat to provide snacks to students in public schools.

The remaining 10,000 tonnes will be sold to finance school feeding projects, repair schools, purchase supplies and provide child health and nutrition education for parents and children, the USDA said.

The donation will be made under USDA's McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service.

This year USDA will donate nearly 95,000 tonnes of U.S. commodities to 15 countries as part of this program. (Reuters)