Food Aid through the World Food Programme (WFP)

February 27, 2007

The Government of Japan has decided to extend food aid totaling 2,520 million yen through the World Food Programme (WFP) for the following 13 countries with socially vulnerable persons suffering from chronic food shortage caused by poverty, and confusions in an unstable transitional period. Notes to this effect were exchanged on February 27 (Tue) in Rome between Mr. Yuji Nakamura, Japanese Ambassador to Italy, and Mr. Jean-Jacques Graisse, Senior Deputy Executive Director of the WFP.

The breakdown of this assistance is as follows:
- (1) For vulnerable groups in the Kingdom of Cambodia (210 million yen)
- (2) For vulnerable groups in the People's Republic of Bangladesh (400 million yen)
- (3) For vulnerable groups in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (110 million yen)
- (4) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Angola (290 million yen)
- (5) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (110 million yen)
- (6) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (220 million yen)
- (7) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Congo (130 million yen)
- (8) For vulnerable groups in the United Republic of Tanzania (310 million yen)
- (9) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Burundi (180 million yen)
- (10) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Rwanda (140 million yen)
- (11) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Liberia (200 million yen)
- (12) For vulnerable groups in the Kingdom of Lesotho (100 million yen)
- (13) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Nicaragua (120 million yen)
The effects of social confusion, such as poverty and internal conflict, and climate instability, have been aggravating the food situation in these countries. In particular, the vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, HIV/AIDS patients, refugees and evacuees, are generally not well placed to earn a living. As a result, these levels of society are regularly short of food. Since the vulnerable are placed in such a situation, and to respond to the WFP's request for assistance, the Government of Japan has decided to provide this food aid from a humanitarian point of view. It is expected that Japan's assistance will alleviate the food shortage in these countries.

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