Yokohama – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed this week the announcement of a US$140.7 million contribution from the Government of Japan. The generous donation will provide vital food and nutritional assistance to millions of people, including refugees, internally-displaced persons, malnourished children, pregnant and breastfeeding women in 16 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The funds will also support special logistics operations in three countries.
“WFP is extremely grateful for this substantial and timely support, which will make a major difference in enabling us to meet urgent needs in many of the world’s hunger hotspots,” said Stephen Anderson, Director of WFP Japan Relations Office. “The Government and people of Japan have always been at the forefront in responding to humanitarian emergencies worldwide. This latest announcement is further evidence of Japan’s generosity and strong leadership in global food and nutrition security.”
A large portion of the donation will support refugees and conflict-affected people in countries such as Yemen, Afghanistan and Jordan where it will help to promote peace and stability. In Jordan, the funds will be used to purchase commodities such as bread, pulses, and oil for Syrian refugees, most of whom are women and children. WFP recently expanded its humanitarian operations to respond to an influx of Syrian refugees into neighbouring countries.
In Africa, Japan’s generosity will benefit people who have been severely affected by conflict and weather-related shocks such as drought and floods in 13 countries, mostly in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. Japan attaches great importance to assistance for Africa, as shown by its hosting of the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) scheduled for June 2013.
WFP’s logistics operations will also benefit from Japan’s support including in Afghanistan, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the agency is also responsible for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) which provides critical air transport and cargo services for the humanitarian community.
The breakdown of the contribution is as follows: Yemen (US$25 million), Afghanistan (US$21 million), Niger (US$15 million), Ethiopia (US$15 million), Kenya (US$15 million), Mali (US$10 million), Senegal (US$8.5 million), Uganda (US$8 million), Sudan (US$5 million), Tanzania (US$4 million), Guinea (US$4 million), Jordan (US$3 million), Cameroon (US$2.2 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (US$2 million), Rwanda (US$1.7 million), and the Republic of Congo (US$1.3 million).