Food Aid for the Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

October 17, 2001

The Government of Japan has decided to extend a food aid worth 500 million yen through the World Food Programme (WFP) to the Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Notes to this effect were exchanged on October 17 (Wed) in Islamabad between Mr. Sadaaki Numata, Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan, and Mr. Daly Belgasmi, Country Director, WFP Pakistan Office, Pakistan.
In Afghanistan, prolonged internal conflict and such natural disasters as drought have generated numbers of refugees, of whom approximately two million have flowed into Pakistan. Furthermore, as the armed strikes by the United States and others started in Afghanistan, another massive exodus of refugees is expected from Afghanistan into Pakistan.
Taking into account the serious food shortage among the refugees, Japan has decided to extend food aid in wheat worth 500 million yen, from humanitarian point of view, while conferring on the matter with the Government of Pakistan.
This food aid will be extended as part of the 4.7 billion-yen grant aid from the "Emergency Economic Assistance for Pakistan" announced on September 21, which is one item of "Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorists Attacks in the United States".

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