The
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a US $3.5
million contribution from the Government of Japan to provide desperately
needed food assistance to tens of thousands of internally displaced
people in Northeast Nigeria.
The
funding allows WFP to deliver food to more than 160,000 people in Borno
and Yobe States, where the Boko Haram insurgency has left many
people severely food insecure, and experts warn of a credible risk of
famine in some places.
“We
commend the Government and people of Japan for their continued
contributions to WFP’s operations in Northeast Nigeria,” said Ronald
Sibanda,
WFP Country Director and Representative ad interim in Nigeria.
“This generous contribution from Japan will help WFP continue scaling up
its response to reach more families in the region with food and
nutrition support.”
commend the Government and people of Japan for their continued
contributions to WFP’s operations in Northeast Nigeria,” said Ronald
Sibanda,
WFP Country Director and Representative ad interim in Nigeria.
“This generous contribution from Japan will help WFP continue scaling up
its response to reach more families in the region with food and
nutrition support.”
Currently, some 4.7 million people are in dire need of food assistance in the three most conflict-affected states
– Borno, Yobe and Adamawa – a figure that is expected to rise to 5.1 million by June.
– Borno, Yobe and Adamawa – a figure that is expected to rise to 5.1 million by June.
“This
new assistance is part of Japan’s pledge made at the Oslo Humanitarian
Conference
on Northeast Nigeria and Lake Chad Region held between 23-24 February
2017 for humanitarian assistance in the region, and newly additional
funding from the Emergency Grant Aid as a swift response to United
Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s call
for emergency humanitarian support,” said Sadanobu Kusaoke, Ambassador
of Japan to Nigeria.
new assistance is part of Japan’s pledge made at the Oslo Humanitarian
Conference
on Northeast Nigeria and Lake Chad Region held between 23-24 February
2017 for humanitarian assistance in the region, and newly additional
funding from the Emergency Grant Aid as a swift response to United
Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s call
for emergency humanitarian support,” said Sadanobu Kusaoke, Ambassador
of Japan to Nigeria.
“The
government of Japan is committed to ensure that millions of people in
dire need of food in northeast Nigeria
do not go hungry,” he added. “It is expected that this funding will, in
the interim, assuage the suffering of people in the affected states who
are in a near-famine situation.”
government of Japan is committed to ensure that millions of people in
dire need of food in northeast Nigeria
do not go hungry,” he added. “It is expected that this funding will, in
the interim, assuage the suffering of people in the affected states who
are in a near-famine situation.”
For
four consecutive months, WFP has reached more one million vulnerable in
northeastern Nigeria with cash-based
transfers, food distributions and nutritional assistance targeting
children under five, along with pregnant and nursing women. Indeed,
WFP’s assistance increased in March to reach nearly 1.2 million
beneficiaries, with plans to gradually scale up to reach 1.8 million people monthly during the coming lean
season.
four consecutive months, WFP has reached more one million vulnerable in
northeastern Nigeria with cash-based
transfers, food distributions and nutritional assistance targeting
children under five, along with pregnant and nursing women. Indeed,
WFP’s assistance increased in March to reach nearly 1.2 million
beneficiaries, with plans to gradually scale up to reach 1.8 million people monthly during the coming lean
season.