Exchange of Notes on Grant Aid (Food Aid) through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

August 1, 2007
Japanese

The Government of Japan has decided to provide through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) grant aid totaling 3,200 million yen as food aid for seven countries/territories which have vulnerable groups (refugees, HIV/AIDS victims, women, children and others) facing serious food shortage caused by poverty or in a fragile transitional stage. Notes to this effect were exchanged on July 31 (Tue) (local time) in Rome between Mr. Yuji Nakamura, Japanese ambassador to Italy, and Ms. Sheila Sisulu, Deputy Executive Director, World Food Programme.

The breakdown of this assistance is as follows:

(1) For vulnerable groups in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (390 million yen)

(2) For People in the Palestinian territories (230 million yen)

(3) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Sierra Leone (350 million yen)

(4) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Zimbabwe (480 million yen)

(5) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of the Sudan (970 million yen)

(6) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Chad (300 million yen)

(7) For vulnerable groups in the Republic of Liberia (480 million yen)

In Afghanistan, food cannot be produced enough because of the environmental destruction caused by long-lasting war and drought, and the country faces a serious food shortage. It is said that about 3.5 million people need food aid all the time because of abject poverty and about three million people need food aid in seasons of food shortage.

In the Palestinian territories, especially the Gaza Strip, the living conditions have grown even worse since Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and 72% of the inhabitants live in poverty.

In Sierra Leone, the civil war which lasted for about 10 years ended in 2002, and the process of reconstruction is under way. However, a number of the people still suffer from chronic food shortage.

Even though Zimbabwe was once called ‘Africa’s grain basket’ because of the high productivity of its large-scale farming, its agricultural productivity has dramatically fallen as a result of the agricultural land reform and drought. The poor harvest in the spring of 2007 has made it even more difficult for vulnerable groups in particular to acquire food.

In Sudan, which is the largest country in the African continent, its land has been damaged by a civil war which lasted for more than 20 years, and the country faces chronic food shortage. According to a UN report, about 200,000 African people were murdered in the Darfur conflict which erupted in 2003, and there are about 2.0-2.5 million refugees and internally displaced persons. The food shortage is expected to continue because of disrupted cultivation even after the displaced persons return home.

Chad, which is one of the poorest countries in the world, is suffering from food shortage. In addition, the Darfur conflict has created about 140,000 internally displaced persons, and about 240,000 refugees who have poured in from Sudan, a neighboring country, and are living in refugee camps with assistance.

After the civil war which lasted for 14 years ended in 2003, Liberia started to proceed on a path of peace and reconstruction. However, reintegration of ex-combatants and assistance for putting back in order the lives of returnees have not been successful because of lack of funds, which has caused low agricultural productivity and serious food shortage.

Taking into account the situation of the socially vulnerable groups in these countries and responding to a request of the WFP, the Government of Japan has decided to provide food aid from a humanitarian point of view. It is expected that the food aid will contribute to alleviating the food shortage in these countries.

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