Japan provides $2.7 mn in food assistance to Afghanistan

KABUL in the coming 12 months, a statement from the Embassy of Japan said on Tuesday.

This generous contribution follows Japan’s humanitarian funding for WFP’s operation in Afghanistan amounted US$ 1.25 million (¥ 140 million) in March, 2019.

A handover ceremony in Kabul was attended by Chargé d' Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan, the State Minister for Disaster Management of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and WFP’s Representative and Country Director for Afghanistan.

“This new contribution will help thousands of families get through critical situations following shocks like displacement due to conflict or natural disasters”, said Zlatan Milisic, WFP’s Representative and Country Director. “Following the worst drought that struck the country in a decade, it is crucial that we continue to deliver life-saving assistance to food insecure families across the country.”

With the Japanese contribution, WFP will provide food assistance to 173,353 vulnerable people struck by natural and man-made disasters, to stabilize their food consumption and meet their food and nutrition needs during and immediately after emergencies. These families will receive two month food rations including fortified wheat flour, fortified vegetable oil, pulses, iodized salt, high energy biscuits and specialized nutritious foods for children.

“In Afghanistan people have been suffering from natural disasters such as drought and flood that caused huge loss of assets and severe shortage of food and animal production especially recent years. In addition to that, many people are living in the insecure circumstances. 

Now 2 million of internally displaced persons (IDPs) need humanitarian assistance for survival in this country. Keeping this in mind, Government of Japan decided the humanitarian assistance through a reliable partner, WFP.” mentioned Mr. Takahashi.

In the first half of 2019, WFP’s assistance reached more than 3.2 million people across the country, including nearly 2.4 million drought-affected people. In 2019, WFP plans to reach 5.2 million people in the country.

Japan is a solid supporter of WFP, having donated US$200 million (¥21.5 billion) in the past ten years to WFP operations in Afghanistan. In addition to food assistance, Japan has been assisting Afghanistan’s nation-building efforts in various fields including security, infrastructure, agriculture, culture etc. The cumulative Japanese assistance to Afghanistan since 2001 amounts to more than $6.6 billion.

The United Nations World Food Programme - saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.

WFP has been working in Afghanistan since 1963 with the aim of helping Afghans build a hunger-free future for themselves and their country. WFP food is distributed on the basis of need, without regard for ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.

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