The Government of Japan has provided a $50 million donation to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which will aid Nigeria among other countries.
According to a WFP statement, the award would benefit 20 nations, the most of which are in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The fund will also assist countries experiencing acute economic problems, conflicts, and extreme weather.
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Haiti, Jordan, Liberia, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, and Yemen are among the nations that will receive more assistance.
The WFP said it welcomed Japan’s grant at a time of unprecedented funding shortage, adding that the contribution will enable it to assist vulnerable populations affected by conflict, extreme weather and economic crisis. Japan has consistently been one of WFP’s top donors.
$13.5m of the grant will be used to help the most desperate in Afghanistan through emergency food distribution and nutrition assistance.
In the same vein, more than $11m will be allocated to provide food, nutrition and livelihood assistance to the conflict-affected people in Palestine.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has displaced many Palestinians and is threatening over 2.2 million people with acute hunger.
Myanmar will benefit from $5.8m that will go to emergency food and nutrition assistance programmes for the most vulnerable people including displaced school children in conflict-affected states and regions following extreme weather conditions and political crises.
In Ukraine, Japan is supporting WFP’s food assistance to respond to the immediate needs of families affected by the war with $4.7m. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to food shortages in the country.
The WFP said $1.9m will be used to provide life-saving emergency food assistance to families in need. Nearly 18 million people are suffering from acute hunger and at least 7.6 million people have been displaced.
A grant of $2m will be used to support tackling deteriorating food insecurity among Yemen’s most vulnerable people with life-saving assistance.
Reacting to the grants Director of the WFP Japan Relations Office, Yasuhiro Tsumura said: “We are grateful for this invaluable contribution from the people of Japan. This contribution enables us to reach families who suffer from hunger and lack of access to food as a result of conflict and disasters, supporting the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable households.
“WFP is facing a critical funding shortage now. Cutting rations, however, will only increase the number of people in need. We sincerely ask for the continued support of the people of Japan.”
