ISLAMABAD: The Government of Japan has donated US$ 5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to help feed Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency as well as those who will have returned in the coming weeks and months as per the FATA Secretariat plan.
With this valuable contribution, WFP will be able to assist 91,000 families (555,100 people) for three months, according to a press release issued here on Tuesday.
Monthly relief food distributions, conducted by WFP and partners under the lifesaving humanitarian relief component, have ensured that basic food needs of those who temporarily left their homes as a result of law enforcement operations in FATA are met.
The family food basket consists of wheat flour, peas, fortified vegetable oil and salt.
To address micronutrient deficiencies, wheat is being milled and fortified locally with a premix containing iron, folate and other vitamins and minerals.
Vegetable oil is enriched with vitamins A and D. Furthermore, upon return, WFP provides a six month return ration followed by school feeding, nutrition and livelihoods rehabilitation programmes focusing on the enhancement of food security and resilience.
The donation from Japan will provide funding to transport, mill, fortify and distribute 16,400 mt of wheat supplied by the Government of Pakistan (as part of the 155,000 mt contributed in 2015) as well as purchase 1,400 mt of yellow split peas and 718 mt of vegetable oil.
Japan has been a critical partner for WFP in Pakistan having donated US$97 million since 2010.
In January 2011, WFP welcomed a record one-off donation of US$70 million from the Government of Japan in support of its emergency response and recovery assistance for crisis-affected populations in Pakistan (the largest single Japanese donation to WFP to date).
"WFP is very grateful to Japan for its generous donation and continued support. It will enable us to provide food rations to people displaced from North Waziristan Agency and assist in their return as well as rehabilitation once back home, which will ultimately contribute to the peace and stability in the region" said Peter Scott-Bowden, WFP Pakistan Representative.
WFP aims to assist 7.5 million people between 2013 and 2015 at a total cost of US$595 million seeking, amongst others, to improve economic opportunities and promote social inclusion in FATA, boost community resilience in disaster-prone areas, and address nutrition and education in the country.
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