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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has expressed gratitude to Japan for its latest contribution of US$5.6 million, which will be used to provide wheat flour and pulses to food insecure and vulnerable internally displaced people (IDPs) in Yemen.

�This donation brings Japan�s contributions to our current emergency operation to nearly US$30 million, making Japan our second largest donor,� said WFP Yemen Representative and Country Director Bishow Parajuli. �We are extremely grateful for Japan�s considerable and consistent support, which has proven crucial in assisting the most vulnerable.�

A special handover ceremony took place today at WFP�s warehouse in Sana�a to mark the donation, attended by Japan�s Ambassador to Yemen, Katsuyoshi Hayashi, together with Yemeni Government representatives and staff from the Japanese Embassy and WFP.

�The government of Japan is eager to contribute to alleviating the suffering caused by food shortages across Yemen, which is going through a very critical juncture on the humanitarian and political fronts,� said Ambassador Hayashi. �We hope this new food assistance will contribute to the effort which has been made by Yemeni people to stabilize the country through the political transitional period.�

WFP is currently providing assistance to more than 5 million people in Yemen; these include 600,000 IDPs; 325,000 children under two years with malnutrition prevention activities; 200,000 children under five with malnutrition treatment activities; 157,000 pregnant and nursing mothers with nutrition support; and 3.8 million people who are food insecure.

In July 2014, WFP will launch a new two-year relief and recovery operation worth US$500 million to reach some 6 million people with a range of activities, including school feeding, cash and food for work, and nutrition support interventions, as well as relief assistance for the most food insecure.
�This new operation reflects a gradual shift from providing relief to building recovery and resilience, helping people overcome barriers to food and nutrition security and manage the consequences of conflict and natural stresses,� said Parajuli. �However, its success will depend on the continued generosity of major donors such as Japan.