The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Pakistan has welcomed a generous contribution of $70 million from the Government of Japan, which is part of the country's recently announced assistance package of $500 million for Pakistan.
"This is a very substantial contribution from the Government of Japan and it comes at the right time, when crisis affected people are engaged in activities that help to restore social and human capital as well as physical assets", said Wolfgang Herbinger, WFP Representative in Pakistan. He said the Government of Japan's donation will allow early recovery activities to be implemented benefiting up to 5.5 million people.
"WFP will use the funds to procure 62,000 metric tons of various foods produced and processed in Pakistan," he added. WFP Representative said the channelling of funds to support food assistance programmes in Pakistan reflects Japan's desire to promote peace and stability in the region.
Funds will be used to provide food to conflict and disaster-affected people, support recovery activities for vulnerable groups, including malnourished children and pregnant and breast-feeding women. He said that the current funding and Japan's commitment to promote human security and peace building is proof of its strong role in global food and nutrition security.
Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan said, "as a long standing friend of Pakistan, we trust that this contribution be best used for the alleviation of the suffering of the flood-affected people of Pakistan." The WFP managed United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) will also benefit from Japan's generous donation.
UNHAS helicopters transport vital food and other humanitarian supplies into inaccessible areas and mountain valleys during the current harsh winter months" said Spokesman of WFP. Donors have been kind in supporting WFP life saving relief and early recovery activities in Pakistan in the wake of recent floods. However, nearly $300 million are still required for relief and recovery to continue until end of the year. With commodity shortfalls expected from February 2011 onwards, WFP urges other donors to follow Japan's example to avoid any pipeline breaks, he said.