Japan Contributes US$2.75 M To WFP Chad
N’DJAMENA ── The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes Ja-pan’s contribution of US$2.75 million (Yen 300 million) to provide food assistance to 177,000 vulnerable people in Chad’s Sahel region, many of whom are uncertain where their next meal will come from.
The funding will contribute to providing WFP rations of cereals, pulses, oil and salt to some 62,500 Chadian households in the Sahel, along with half-rations to 114,500 Su-danese refugees who have been living in camps in the East for more than a decade.
"This important contribution from Japan comes at a time when food insecurity affects more than 30-40 percent of the people in several Sahelian regions,” said WFP Coun-try Director in Chad, Mary-Ellen McGroarty. “It allows WFP to fulfill its mission: to provide life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people and prevent a deteriora-tion of their situation during the difficult period of the lean season.”
The announcement coincides with the lean season in Chad, when food stocks are low before the next harvest and market prices soar, deepening hunger among many peo-ple who are already living on the edge.
“Through this new contribution to WFP, the Government of Japan supports Chad’s efforts to attain food security for all, which contributes to the development of human capital in this country,” said Japan’s Ambassador to Chad, Kunio Okamura.
WFP supports almost half-a-million people in Chad through food distributions and cash-transfers, including to refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons who are affected by instability in neighbouring countries. WFP also assists another 490,000 Chadians living in vulnerable communities of the Sahel.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.
The Government of Japan has been a steadfast supporter of people in Chad through economic cooperation and generous donations to WFP and other humanitarian organ-izations. At the global level, Japan consistently ranks among WFP’s top 10 donors.
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For more information please contact:
Charlène Cabot, WFP/Chad : +235 66 99 34 20
Takuya Nakagome, Embassy of Japan: +237 222 20 62 02
