Japan Contribution Helps WFP Support Displaced Iraqis And Syrian Refugees In Iraq

Japan’s timely contribution arrives as the conflict in Iraq continues to drive people out of their homes with the number of internally displaced people exceeding three million across the country. Also compounding the situation, is the presence of nearly 250,000 Syrian refugees who have sought refuge in the northern Kurdistan region of Iraq.

“Japan has been a committed donor, supporting WFP in fighting hunger in Iraq,” said Jane Pearce, Representative and Country Director of WFP in Iraq. “We thank the Government of Japan and its people for their continued support to alleviate the suffering of displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees in this country.”

Japan’s contribution will allow WFP to support close to 500,000 internally displaced Iraqis and 35,000 Syrian refugees for the next nine months. Internally displaced Iraqi families will receive food parcels that contain staple food items like wheat flour, pulses, sugar, salt and vegetable oil, while the Syrian refugees who have access to local Iraqi markets will receive monthly electronic food vouchers. WFP provides family food parcels to displaced families who have settled in locations with cooking facilities, while vouchers are provided to those living in areas with access to functioning markets.

To date, Japan has contributed more than US$31 million to WFP’s emergency operations in Iraq.

#                              #                                 #

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.

Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

Marwa Awad, WFP/Amman, Mob +9627912925197

Abeer Etefa, WFP/Cairo, Mob +201066634352

Dina El-Kassaby, WFP/Cairo, Mob +201015218882