AFRICA – The government of Japan and Korea have issued their support towards World Food Programme’s efforts of combating food insecurity in Africa.

According to the humanitarian organization, over 34 million people across the world are grappling with emergency levels of acute hunger, with majority of them being in Africa.

To curb the menace, WFP has welcomed US$1.2 million from the republic of Korea to boost its efforts including offering food assistance for vulnerable communities in five countries: Ethiopia, Nigeria, Madagascar, South Sudan and Burkina Faso.

“We are grateful for this generous and timely contribution from the government of the Republic of Korea and Korean people to some of the most severe food-insecure communities in Burkina Faso and Nigeria,” Chris Nikoi, WFP Regional Director for Western Africa said.

In addition, the Government of Japan provided JPY 200 million (US$1.8 million) to the WFP in Mozambique to address food insecurity in communities affected by the ongoing violence and displacement of people in the Cabo Delgado province.

The US$ 1.8 million donated by Japan will support WFP to purchase emergency food and improve the nutrition of more than 25,000 people in the region.

“The Government of Japan is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Northern Mozambique. We all need to support to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

“Japan has decided to cooperate with WFP to improve food security of displaced populations in Cabo Delgado. We stand side by side of the people of Mozambique and we will continue to support our Mozambican friends to face the challenges of the ongoing insecurity,” stressed the Ambassador of Japan to Maputo, Mr. KIMURA Hajime.

Food security is an important component of the Japanese assistance in Mozambique, which includes support to the most recent humanitarian crises such as the conflict in the north, the emergency response to climate shocks and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It addresses the immediate needs of communities and supports resilience building to prepare communities for future emergencies.

With the support of donors like Japan, WFP is addressing the needs of 800,000 internally displaced people and the most vulnerable people within the host communities in Northern Mozambique.

“WFP welcomes the Japanese donation and the continuous contributions of Japan to support WFP’s life-saving assistance for families affected by the conflict. We hope other partners to follow the Japanese example,” said the WFP Deputy Country Director, Pierre Lucas.

Japan’s latest contribution to WFP humanitarian assistance was in 2020 and the beginning of 2021 with a budget of US$ 5.29 million in total to provide food assistance and livelihoods support to refugees and asylum-seekers in Maratane Refugee Camp (Nampula Province) and to internally displaced people in Cabo Delgado province.

In May 2019, the Asian country contributed with US$ 6.9 million for the provision of emergency food assistance to cyclone Idai affected people in Central Mozambique.

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