Japan extends additional aid to affected people in Sudan’s Darfur

KHARTOUM, Nov 23, 2004 (SUNA) — The Government of Japan has decided to extend additional grant assistance in the amount of approximately 3.5 million US dollars to the affected people in Darfur.

Sudanese woman sifts grain. In a refugees camp.

A press release by the Japanese Embassy here said the aid, three million US dollars will be allocated to food aid through the World Food Program (WFP) for purchase and transport of sorghum from other parts of Sudan to the Darfur region, and 500,000 US dollars will be applied to an increase programme of food production conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for procure and distribution of seeds of crops and vegetables.

Japan is intending by this assistance to secure food supply in the region in both short and long term, hoping that the people in area will regain their usual life as soon as possible, the press release said.

This assistance will be implemented as completion of the announcement made by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in his address at the UN General Assembly that the Government of Japan would contribute additional 15 million US dollars toward the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region later on this assistance, Japan’s contribution for the Darfur region in this year will amount 21 million US dollars.