Japan Provides Further Support To WFP’s Emergency Relief Work In South Sudan
JUBA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a US$4.2 million contribution from the Government of Japan to support both its emergency response in South Sudan, and its United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in the country.
This contribution is part of the US$88 million Japan pledged at the High Level Event on the Humanitarian Crisis in South Sudan held in Nairobi last month.
“The challenge we faced last year was reaching out to the people in dire need of assistance. WFP is our reliable partner to extend the assistance to the most vulnerable people in South Sudan. This is a very crucial time to boost the delivering capacity to those in need before the rainy season, ” said the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Takeshi Akamatsu.
Most of the funding, US$3.2 million, will assist more than 45,700 children and 17,780 women by providing them with specialized fortified foods to treat moderate acute malnutrition and prevent those in highly food insecure environments from becoming malnourished.
“We welcome the Government of Japan’s contribution right now, because WFP is working hard to use the dry season to pre-position food in areas that will become inaccessible when heavy rains return,” said Joyce Luma, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. “As the lean season approaches, Japan’s support will enable WFP to continue its assistance to the most vulnerable mothers and children through a very challenging time ahead.”
The remainder of the Japanese funds – US$ 950,000 – will be used to support the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by WFP, to continue its essential work of providing passenger and light air cargo services to 46 locations across the country. More than 250 humanitarian agencies rely on UNHAS services to deliver their life-saving assistance.
In 2015, WFP aims to assist 3 million people in South Sudan, including life-saving emergency assistance for 1.4 million people directly affected by conflict, including specialized nutrition support for 485,400 children under the age of 5 and 51,600 pregnant and nursing women.
This emergency assistance focuses on the three main conflict-affected states of Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity, as well as Protection of Civilians areas and other large centres hosting internally displaced people.
WFP still requires additional funding to pre-position sufficient food stocks ahead of the rainy season and thus reduce WFP’s reliance on costly air operations to reach people in need.
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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 75 countries.
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For more information please contact:
George Fominyen, WFP Juba: mobile: +211 922 465 247, George.fominyen@wfp.org
Hisako Ishizaki, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan Tel: +959003152 E-mail: hisako.ishizaki@mofa.go.jp
