Japan Helps WFP Provide Food Assistance For Families Affected By Syria Crisis
CAIRO – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of more than US$15 million from the Government of Japan that will support almost six million people affected by the ongoing crisis inside Syria and neighbouring countries.
This contribution will enable WFP to continue providing vital food assistance to the most vulnerable families inside Syria and to Syrians taking refuge in neighbouring countries. A portion will also be used to support vulnerable Jordanians who have been impacted by the crisis.
“Japan has been a top donor since the crisis in Syria started nearly six years ago, and it has maintained a generous flow of support to ease the suffering of families who have been severely affected by the conflict,” said Nicolas Oberlin, WFP Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
Almost six years of conflict in Syria have caused tremendous suffering and massive population displacement within the country and outside its borders. WFP supports the food needs of more than four million people inside Syria primarily through food rations. Support is also provided to more than 1.5 million vulnerable refugees and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt through electronic food vouchers and livelihood projects.
“Thanks to this contribution, WFP will be able to continue supporting vulnerable Syrian families with food assistance and livelihood projects to help those in stabilized areas restore their ability to provide for themselves and their families,” Oberlin added.
Since the onset of the Syria crisis, Japan has contributed over US$88 million to WFP emergency response across Syria and the region.
This US$15.3 million contribution is allocated as follows: Syria (US$1 million), Jordan (US$6 million), Lebanon (US$2 million), Turkey (US$4 million), Iraq (US$1.8 million), Egypt (US$0.5 million).
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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 80 countries.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Dina El-Kassaby, WFP/Cairo, Tel. +202 2528 1730 ext. 2614, Mob. +2 010 152 18882