Food Aid through the World Food Programme (WFP)

February 25, 2005

The Government of Japan has decided to extend food aid amounting 550 million yen through the World Food Programme (WFP). Notes to this effect were exchanged on February 25 (Fri) Japan time in Rome between Ms. Nobuko Matsubara, Japanese Ambassador to Italy, and Mr. John M. Powell, Deputy Executive Director of the WFP.
The breakdown of this aid is as follows (value of the assistance for each country is in parentheses):

(1)	For the socially vulnerable groups in Indonesia (150 million yen)
(2)	For conflict-afflicted people and the vulnerable groups in Sri Lanka (200 million yen)
(3)	For the conflict-afflicted people in Côte d'Ivoire (200 million yen)

The aid for Indonesia through WFP is intended for distributing nutrition-enriched biscuits (made from locally procured wheat and mixed vitamins procured overseas) and other food items for the socially vulnerable groups who reside in underprivileged parts of the country (such as poverty group, internally displaced persons, tubercular patients and children). The project aims at improving nutrition, creating jobs and generating income for such people. The project for Sri Lanka will distribute rice, the staple food of the people, in the former conflict areas in the northeast in order to contribute to rehabilitation and stabilization of the areas. Although this assistance extended by Japan through WFP is not direct assistance to the victims of the major earthquake off the coast of Sumatra and tsunami disaster, it will still support the efforts of both Indonesia and Sri Lanka toward their restoring self-reliance and nation-building after the disaster.
In Côte d'Ivoire, an armed conflict between the government and opposing forces in September 2002 and the subsequent political unrest have caused food shortage with the deterioration of main crop production. WFP has implemented food distribution projects for refugees, internally displaced persons and other deprived groups including malnourished children. In view of further rise in tension since November 2004 and from a humanitarian point of view, Japan has decided to extend this food aid (rice) in response to a request from WFP.
This food aid is expected to ease the food shortage of conflict-afflicted people and the vulnerable groups of the recipient countries.

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