Japan has always been one of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) largest donors, and in this year of crises for the world’s most vulnerable, it has provided a record contribution to fighting global hunger, helping to save millions of lives.
Japan’s generosity underlines their commitment to addressing global hunger solutions, and I commend Prime Minister Hatoyama for his support for initiatives aimed at addressing the impact of the economic crisis and climate change and for programmes that support development, and address poverty as we strive towards meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
Against the backdrop of the global economic downturn, Japan stepped up to grant a generous aid package of US$124 million to WFP in February 2009 to provide food assistance in Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. This extraordinary contribution helped us reach millions of hungry and undernourished people who would otherwise have no access to basic subsistence.
So far this year, Japanese contributions to WFP – most recently in response to the floods in the Philippines - have totalled US$195 million, exceeding by far the annual average contribution of US$135 million for the past ten years. This makes Japan the third largest donor, and a vital partner, helping WFP save lives that would otherwise be lost to hunger.
