Japan gives $10mln to address Sudan’s relief gap

May 27, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Japan extended 10 million dollars to the UN food programme to address funding gap in Sudan’s humanitarian operations.

The UN humanitarian agency issued, last February an extraordinary emergency appeal to country donors to address the critical funding gap in our programmes created by soaring food and fuel prices.

The Japanese Ambassador to Sudan on Tuesday gave the UN World Food Programme nearly US$10 million for WFP’s operations in Sudan in response to an appeal from WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran over rising food prices.

Japan Ambassador to Sudan, Yuichi Ishii and WFP’s Representative in Sudan Kenro Oshidari attended the signing of the agreement at the WFP office in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

The US$9.6 million will buy sorghum and corn-soya blend, which is highly nutritious and used to fight malnutrition in women and children.

The contribution to WFP Sudan is part of a US$47.8 million Japanese package to assist the most vulnerable in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

(ST)