Decision on Emergency Food Aid in Response to Rising Food Prices

May 26, 2008

1.     On May 23rd, the Government of Japan decided to implement grant food aid of five billion five-hundred and seventy million yen (approximately 54 million dollars) to eleven countries and one region through the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as an emergency measure in response to the aggravating issue of rising food prices,
    
2.     About 48 million dollars of the total package will be granted to WFP, and it will be immediately disbursed to WFP as necessary procedures are completed.
       The rising world food prices have aggravated the food insecurity condition in these countries and region, where people were already suffering from chronic food insecurity. WFP utilizes the Japan’s contribution to deliver food to the vulnerable people in these countries and region.
       Also, about 5.8 million dollars will be granted to UNRWA and utilized for assisting Palestine refugees.
    
3.     The Government of Japan announced emergency food aid of about 100 million dollars on April 25th, and this is to announce the first group of recipient countries and amounts granted respectively.
       Japan has already provided food aid of about 85 million dollars in the year 2008. With the assistance announced on May 23rd, Japan’s contribution amounts to 140 million dollars. Out of it, Japan’s contribution to WFP increases from 68 million dollars to 120 million dollars.
       The countries and region which receive the grant food aid and each amount are as follows:

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