Yokohama– The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a US$10.6 million contribution from the Government of Japan to assist hungry and vulnerable people in Myanmar.
The contribution will provide urgently-needed food assistance to support families and communities recovering from recurrent natural disasters and also address food insecurity and chronic malnutrition among vulnerable populations.
“WFP is truly grateful for this significant contribution by the Japanese government,” said Naoe Yakiya, Officer-in-Charge of WFP Japan Relations Office. “This is further proof of Japan’s continued commitment to food security in Asia. Thanks to this donation, we will be able to protect thousands of people from falling into hunger and help the poor communities build resilience.”
Myanmar is prone to natural disasters and vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which pushes vulnerable people ever deeper into hunger.
The Japanese donation will be used to provide vital food and nutrition assistance through a food-for-work programme for 345,000 people. In return for their labour on projects to rebuild livelihoods and make communities more resilient, such as roads, bridges, and irrigation systems, workers will receive food rations to help feed their families.
So far this year, Japan has contributed some $138million to WFP, making it the agency’s third largest donor.