By Lodu William Odiya and Jacob Onuha Nelson
Government of Japan has donated five hundred million Japanese Yen, equivalent to $3.2 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) as a life-saving food assistance and school meals across South Sudan.
According to a statement on Wednesday, the funding would enable WFP to deliver food assistance to more than 14,000 people, including crisis-affected population in the country, refugees, and returnees, for a period of six months.
The statement further noted the contribution would support daily school meals for more than 42,000 children, ensuring they have access to at least one nutritious meal a day, helping to improve school enrolment, attendance, and retention rates.
It also underscored the assistance was grounded in Japan’s Development Cooperation Charter emphasizing human security, peacebuilding and resilience, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
The statement stated that the assistance aligned with the TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) process which prioritizes inclusive growth, peace and stability, and human capital development.
According to the statement, the contribution came at a critical time, as 7.7 million people in South Sudan faced acute food insecurity, and 2.3 million children also at risk of malnutrition.
The statement highlighted that this country had continued to facing compounding humanitarian challenges including conflict, repeated flooding, economic instability, and the spillover effects of the ongoing crisis in neighbouring Sudan.
“In South Sudan, the needs are immense and continue to outpace the resources available. This generous contribution from the Government of Japan comes at a critical moment, as humanitarian needs continue to be persistently high,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Country Director in South Sudan.
“It will allow us to deliver lifesaving food assistance to the most vulnerable communities, while school meals will continue to offer children a vital lifeline keeping them in school and helping to build hope for a brighter future.”
According to Japan, it would remain a longstanding and reliable partner to WFP in South Sudan and around the world, consistently supporting efforts to save lives and meet urgent food needs.