Japan will keep contributing to the welfare of refugees- Amb Takayuki Miyashita

As he visited the Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe District, East Province of Rwanda, The Japanese Ambassador   Takayuki Miyashira said that his nation commits itself to the assistance of the refugees in different areas of Asia and Africa especially in Rwanda. He said that his government will keep working closely the World Food Program in delivering all needed food and nutrition supplies whenever necessary.

The trip to Mahama refugee camp took place yesterday and the Japanese Ambassador visited different available facilities including food store that is worthy 1.4 million $ that Japan has given to the WFP.

The package was used in buying and storing vitamin rich floor intended for women and children who eagerly need healthy food.

The press release issued jointly by the JICA and the WFP reads that the Government of Japan has given a USD 1.4 million cash contribution to the WFP to enable the latter to continue to fulfill its commitment to provide food and nutrition assistance to Burundian and Congolese refugee camps in Rwanda.

The exchange of notes for this grant was signed in Rome on September 9, 2016. The handover ceremony took place in Mahama camp hosting over 50 thousands Burundian refugees.

The Japanese contribution is part of a USD 21.6 million cash contribution provided to the WFP globally to be able to provide vital food and nutrition assistance to the most vulnerable people in 11 countries in Asia and in Africa, including Rwanda.

“This generous contribution from Japan provides hope to Burundian and Congolese refugees, in that they will continue to receive their full food entitlements” said Jean Pierre de Margerie who is the WFP representative and Country Director.

This contribution to WFP complements USD 2.5 million in support provided by the Government of Japan earlier in this year to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), helping its programs for refugees in Mahama, including provision of family shelters, health services, protection for children and women, education and self –reliance initiatives.

Japan, moreover, has contributed USD 20.7 million for refugees and returnees’ assistance through emergency food aid and human capacity development since opening its Embassy in Rwanda in 2010.

“The Government and people of Japan are deeply concerned with the welfare of refugees in Rwanda, and this contribution to the WFP is the manifestation of our commitment, noted Takayuki Miyashita, the Japanese Ambassador to Rwanda.

At the sixth Tokyo International Conference of African Development (TICAD VI) held in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2016, Japan reaffirmed the importance of nutrition as the very foundation of health and is stepping up its support for the alleviation of the hunger and the malnutrition on the continent.

WFP is an active partner of the ‘Initiative for the Food and Nutrition Security in Africa(IFNA)’ which was launched at the TICAD VI by the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development(NEPAD) and is ready to accelerate collaboration with the Japan in the area of nutrition.

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