Government of Japan helps WFP provide critical support to refugees in Tanzania

The contribution comes at a critical time when WFP is faced with significant funding gaps and will enable WFP to provide food assistance to refugees in Nyarugusu and Nduta camps in Kigoma region. 

"I am very pleased to host such a ceremony that highlights Japan’s US$ 900,000 contribution to WFP to meet the food and nutrition needs of refugees in Tanzania” said H.E. Mr. Yasushi Misawa, Ambassador of Japan. "In order to mitigate the burden of Tanzania as a host country, the Government of Japan has been supporting the International Organizations in their activities in the refugee camps."

Tanzania is home to more than 200,000 refugees from Burundi and Congo, who rely on WFP’s assistance to meet their basic food needs. The Japanese funding will be used to purchase various food commodities including cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, and salt – all distributed as part of WFP’s food basket.

"We are extremely grateful to the Government of Japan for their generous and continued support, which will make a difference in the lives of refugees in Tanzania, said Sarah Gordon-Gibson, WFP’s Country Director in Tanzania. “This contribution will help us provide much-needed food assistance to vulnerable refugees, most of whom are children and women.". 

The Government of Japan is a long-standing partner of WFP in Tanzania. The latest contribution brings Japan’s total contributions to Tanzania to US$ 4.7 million since 2016.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.