Nigeria will benefit from a $50 million grant donated to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) by the Government of Japan, to help countries in serious economic crisis and those ravaged by conflicts and extreme weather.
The beneficiaries of the grant are 20 countries, mostly in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Some of the countries to benefit from the supplementary funding include; Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Haiti, Jordan, Liberia, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine and Yemen.
In a statement, the WFP welcomed Japan’s grant at a time of unprecedented funding shortage, adding that the contribution will enable it to assist vulnerable populations affected by conflict, extreme weather and economic crisis. Japan has consistently been one of WFP’s top donors.
$13.5 million of the grant will be used to help the most desperate in Afghanistan through emergency food distribution and nutrition assistance.
In the same vein, more than $11 million will be allocated to provide food, nutrition and livelihood assistance to the conflict-affected people in Palestine. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has displaced many Palestinians and is threatening over 2.2 million people with acute hunger.
Myanmar will benefit $5.8 million that will go to emergency food and nutrition assistance programmes for the most vulnerable people including displaced school children in conflict-affected states and regions following extreme weather conditions and political crisis.
In Ukraine, Japan is supporting WFP’s food assistance to respond to the immediate needs of families affected by the war with $4.7 million. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to food shortages in the country.
The WFP said $1.9 million will be used to provide life-saving emergency food assistance to families in need. Nearly 18 million people are suffering from acute hunger and at least 7.6 million people have been displaced.
A grant of $2 million will be used to support tackling deteriorating food insecurity among Yemen’s most vulnerable people with life-saving assistance.
Reacting to the grants Director of the WFP Japan Relations Office, Yasuhiro Tsumura said: “We are grateful for this invaluable contribution from the people of Japan. This contribution enables us to reach families who suffer from hunger and lack of access to food as a result of conflict and disasters, supporting the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable households.
“WFP is facing a critical funding shortage now. Cutting rations, however, will only increase the number of people in need. We sincerely ask for the continued support of the people of Japan.”
