Humanitarian Assistance for Guatemala through United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

November 22, 2005

For the relief of Hurricane Stan victims in the Republic of Guatemala, the Government of Japan decided on November 22 (Tue) to extend 200,000 US dollars to support WFP's emergency food distribution project in Guatemala. Ms. Akiko Yamanaka, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has notified the decision to Ms. Susana Malcorra, WFP Deputy Executive Director, who is currently visiting Japan at the invitation of the Government of Japan.
The contribution will be allocated to purchase about 414 tons of maize to be distributed mainly in highland areas where the torrential rain caused by the Hurricane most seriously hit, and will be used to support poor farmers in particular.
On October 8 (Sat), the Government of Japan extended emergency assistance in kind (blankets, water purifiers, generators, plastic canteens, plastic sheets, etc) worth 12 million yen to Guatemala. In addition, Japan decided to provide the country with a grant aid worth about 83.5 million yen (about 780,000 U.S. dollars) on October 28. This additional assistance is extended taking account of the ongoing serious food shortage in the afflicted areas, especially the highland areas, and the strong request from WFP including Mr. Morris, Executive Director of the WFP.
The assistance is expected to contribute to improving food shortages of the hurricane-afflicted people in Guatemala and to improving the nutritious situation of infants, in particular, who are most seriously affected by the disaster.

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