Japan Pledges $3.1 m in Support of World Food Program

[Aepsilons]

RAMALLAH, November 20, 2014 (WAFA) – The government of Japan announced on Thursday a new donation to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) of US$3.1 million (JPY 340 million) to assist the most vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza with food.

Japan’s new support enables WFP to provide nutritious food to approximately 90,000 of the most vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza for 3.5 months, said a press release issued by the representative office of Japan on Thursday.

WFP Representative and Country Director Daniela Owen said this contribution will help WFP meet the urgent food needs of people in Gaza.

The new Japanese donation was confirmed with the signing of an agreement at a ceremony in Ramallah, attended by Ambassador of Japan to the Palestinian Authority Junya Matsuura, Minister of Social Affairs Shawqi Al-Aissa, and WFP’s Daniela Owen.

Ambassador Junya Matsuura said: “Japan believes the fight against hunger is winnable and we believe that WFP is playing a major role in breaking the cycle of hunger by promoting effective food systems”.

Minister of Social Affairs Shawqi Al-Aissa praised the role of the Government of Japan in supporting the vulnerable and food insecure people through WFP’s food assistance programmes.

“After several devastating conflicts, the people of the Gaza Strip are enduring the impacts of harsh economic and social conditions. Your continued contributions are crucial to alleviate their plights and strengthen their resilience,” added al-Aissa.

Palestinian Authority Japan’s contribution allows WFP to maintain investment in the local economy through local purchases which help build resilience. Since 2011, WFP has invested more than US$150 million in the Palestinian economy via local purchases and its food voucher programme.

As one of WFP’s top donors, since 2005, Japan has given more than US$29 million to help food insecure Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=27098

@United

 

[Kyoto]

Great to hear
Especially as this is despite the Japanese economy not being in the best shape at the moment

 

[Aepsilons]

Great to hear
Especially as this is despite the Japanese economy not being in the best shape at the moment

As the saying goes, bro, give and you shall receive. This has always been part of Japanese culture...

 

[Kyoto]

As the saying goes, bro, give and you shall receive. This has always been part of Japanese culture...

I am a little sad at their strengthening of ties with Israel though.

 

[Aepsilons]

I am a little sad at their strengthening of ties with Israel though.

Its a pragmatic relationship; tho Japan and Israel are cooperative partners, our side has never been shy in protesting the IDF's excessive use of force. And Japan has been vocal about the need to find solution through 2 state solution. I do hope it can be realized.

 

[Kyoto]

Its a pragmatic relationship; tho Japan and Israel are cooperative partners, our side has never been shy in protesting the IDF's excessive use of force. And Japan has been vocal about the need to find solution through 2 state solution. I do hope it can be realized.

Yes I've heard that Japan agreed most strongly to boycott Israel before.

 

[United]

"どうもありがとうございます"

 

[Aepsilons]

Japan condemns violence and welcome the agreemant to calm the situations in Jerusalem

In press statement issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of on the Recent Situation in Al-Aqsa Compound in Jerusalem the Government of Japan deeply deplores the recent clashes in Al-Aqsa Compound in Jerusalem. The Government of Japan condemns all kinds of violence and incitement at the Al-Aqsa Compound.

In this context, Japan appreciates and supports efforts by Jordan to calm down the situation. Japan also welcomes that Israel, Palestine and Jordan agreed to work to calm the situation during the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Amman. Japan attaches importance to the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel reaffirmed to keep the status quo on the compound.

The statement added Japan once again urges both Israeli and Palestinian sides to enhance mutual trust for the resumption of the peace negotiation.

In another issue conserning Japan intervention in the middle east Japanese Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative to the Palestinian Authority Junya Matsuura and UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl today signed an agreement whereby Japan will contribute an additional JPY 630 million (approx. US$ 5.8 million) for food aid to Palestine refugees.

This generous contribution will benefit almost 300,000 of the most vulnerable Palestine refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Food insecurity is pervasive in all five UNRWA fields of operation – driven by growing poverty, political instability and restrictions on the movement of people and goods, such as the blockade on Gaza and the West Bank Barrier.

Junya Matsuura, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, reiterated the commitment of Japan to supporting the Palestine refugee community. He said: “This year, Japan announced 200 million US dollars as a new pledge, which we reaffirmed on the occasion of the Conference on the Reconstruction of Gaza in Cairo last month. 5.8 million US dollars of this food aid is a part of it. We are very proud of our relationship with UNRWA. By working together, we are able to provide important support to Palestine refugees – in Gaza and other fields.”

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl said, “We are grateful for the support from Japan, one of our strongest partners. The present donation will be used to assist all the areas where we work across the Middle East. We also greatly appreciate Japan’s rapid response, as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate and the people are waiting for the pledges made by the international community in Cairo to materialize.”

The new donation follows a US$ 4.5 million contribution from Japan to UNRWA in August 2014, which is funding food, non-food items and medicine. Japan has contributed a total US$ 28.7 million to UNRWA in 2014 so far. This follows contributions of US$ 28.8 million in 2013.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some five million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.

Financial support to UNRWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting UNRWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently the deficit stands at US$ 70.5 million.

Japan condemns violence and welcome the agreemant to calm the situations in Jerusalem