Japan provides $30 mln humanitarian aid to Sudan

Dec 1, 2006 (TOKYO) — The Japanese government will provide 30m dollars in emergency humanitarian assistance to help Sudan’s reconstruction efforts, especially in the strife-torn Darfur region, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Friday.

The fund will be used to purchase approximately 14,000 metric tons of sorghum to feed 1.8 million people at serious risk of malnutrition in Darfur, the south and other regions for one month. The beneficiaries include internally displaced persons (IDPs), returning refugees, and the most vulnerable groups.

“WFP is deeply grateful for Japan’s generous support. It is a wonderful
sign of Japan’s strong commitment to build peace and human security in
Africa,” said James Morris, Executive Director of WFP.

“This contribution will provide valuable humanitarian assistance in
war-torn Darfur, and will also be of significant help for returnees in
southern Sudan to rebuild the community and consolidate peace,” said Mihoko Tamamura, Director of WFP’s office in Japan.

Japan’s latest grant aid includes disbursements to the UN World Food Programme for food aid to returning refugees and internally displaced people, particularly in Darfur, western Sudan, as well as in the country’s southern part, the Foreign Ministry said.

Aid will also be disbursed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to support the repatriation efforts of refugees, the ministry said.

This is Japan’s second contribution to WFP’s operations in Sudan this year, after the JPY980 million (US$8.5 million) donation confirmed in July. This brings the total donations from Japan to Sudan through WFP to US$21.5 million this year.

The United Nations has been especially concerned about the Darfur conflict, with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan launching an appeal Thursday for nearly 4bn dollars to provide emergency humanitarian aid to 27 million people across 29 countries.

(ST)