Japan and WFP provide emergency food assistance to families impacted by floods and droughts in Burundi
BUJUMBURA - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$1 million from the Government of Japan to provide lifesaving food assistance to 18,000 people affected by floods and droughts in Burundi.
A ceremony was held in Bujumbura today to mark the contribution. The ceremony was attended by Mr Pontien Hatungimana, Burundi’s Permanent Secretary to the Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights, and Gender, H.E. Mr Isao Fukushima, Ambassador of Japan to Burundi and Jean-Noël Gentile, WFP’s Country Director in Burundi.
“Frequent floods and droughts are shattering livelihoods and worsening food insecurity in Burundi, particularly within rural communities, where more than 85 percent of the population relies on subsistence farming for survival,” said Jean-Noël Gentile, WFP’s Country Director in Burundi. “This generous contribution from the Government of Japan is vital in supporting the daily food needs of vulnerable people as they rebuild their lives.”
From September 2023 to June 2024, heavy rain caused floods and landslides in Bujumbura and Burunga Provinces, affecting more than 300,000 people and displacing over 47,000. Meanwhile, drought conditions caused by below-average rainfall in Butanyerera Province resulted in crop and income losses for smallholder farmers.
“I am pleased to proceed to today’s ceremony. This project aims at providing food assistance to the most vulnerable people in Burundi based on the philosophy of Human Security. I sincerely hope that with the expertise of WFP in Burundi, as many Burundians as possible could spend better lives in dignity,” said H.E. Mr Isao Fukushima, Ambassador of Japan to Burundi. “Japan has been a good partner of WFP in Burundi, and we have implemented eight joint projects since 2010.”
The Government of Japan is a major contributor to WFP in Burundi, providing more than US$12 million in support since 2019.
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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.
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