Japan's US$72 million contribution helps WFP meet urgent hunger needs in 23 countries

“WFP deeply appreciates this substantial injection of support from Japan which comes at a critical time when the organization is simultaneously responding to an unprecedented level of need for food assistance in countries such as Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Myanmar and South Sudan,” said Naoe Yakiya, Director of the WFP Japan Office. “Today, we are living in a world where 815 million people are hungry primarily due to conflicts. We are most grateful for Japan’s leadership in promoting the humanitarian-development-peace nexus through sustainable solutions that address urgent hunger needs and their underlying causes.”

More than half of the funding provided by Japan, or US$40.5 million, will support WFP operations for the most vulnerable people affected by conflict and displacement in seven countries in the Middle East. This is in line with the pledge made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the UN Refugee Summit in September 2016 to provide US$2.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to refugees and migrants, and support to host countries and communities from 2016 to 2018.

 WFP logistics operations will also benefit from Japan’s donation in Afghanistan and South Sudan, where the organization runs the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, which provides critical air transport and cargo services for the entire humanitarian community.

Japan’s allocations to WFP operations are broken down as follows: 

Yemen (US$16 million), Iraq (US$10 million), Syria (US$8.3 million), Myanmar (US$5.2 million), Somalia (US$4.5 million), South Sudan (US$4 million), Ethiopia (US$3 million), Turkey (US$2.8 million), Chad (US$2.5 million), Mali (US$2 million), Guinea (US$1.8 million), Niger (US$1.8 million), Sudan (US$1.5 million), Palestine (US$1.3 million), Afghanistan (US$1 million), Burkina Faso (US$1 million), Jordan (US$1 million), Malawi (US$1 million), Mauritania (US$1 million), Uganda (US$1 million), Sierra Leone (US$0.6 million), Swaziland (US$0.5 million), and Zimbabwe (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:

Eriha Hashimoto, WFP/Yokohama, Tel. +81 (0)3 5766 5364, Mob. +81 (0)90 9844 9990