Japan and WFP provide lifesaving food assistance for refugees and returnees in Burundi

The contribution was marked at a ceremony in Bujumbura, attended by H.E. Mr. Kazuya Nakajo, Japan’s Ambassador to Burundi, Mr. Bernard Ntahiraja, Burundi’s Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Cooperation, and Mr. Jean-Noel Gentile, WFP Representative and Country Director in Burundi.

"This support is vital for families who have fled violence and those returning home with very little," said Mr. Jean-Noel Gentile, WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Burundi. “With Japan’s support, WFP is delivering lifesaving food assistance that preserves dignity and fosters stability as people begin rebuilding their lives.”

In December, Burundi received more than 90,000 refugees fleeing renewed violence and insecurity in eastern DRC. WFP rapidly scaled up assistance to provide hot meals and dry foods for the new arrivals.

Japan’s contribution will enable WFP to support 22,000 refugees and returnees with lifesaving food assistance for six weeks, enabling a swift and effective response to evolving needs.

“Japan remains firmly guided by the philosophy of Human Security, which seeks to protect individuals from fear and want,” said H.E. Mr. Kazuya Nakajo, Japan’s Ambassador to Burundi. “Japan is committed to supporting WFP, a key partner in delivering emergency food assistance in Burundi. Combining its proficiency and experience, I am fully confident that WFP Burundi will achieve the vital outcomes of this project - supporting the most vulnerable efficiently and effectively.”

With up to 93,000 returnees also expected from Tanzanian refugee camps by mid-2026 due to planned closures, pressure on WFP’s limited resources has intensified. Over 37,000 returnees have arrived in Burundi since the beginning of the year. WFP is providing hot meals and a three-day ration for all returnees, as well as a food-assistance return package covering three months.

“The Government of Burundi welcomes the continued partnership with Japan and WFP in responding to the urgent needs of displaced populations,” said Dr. Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation. “This collaboration strengthens national efforts to ensure that vulnerable families receive timely and adequate assistance.”

The Government of Japan has been a major contributor to WFP in Burundi, providing USD 16 million to humanitarian operations 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.

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