The World Food Programme (WFP) in Lebanon has received a US$1.3 million contribution from the Government of Japan, enough to provide food assistance for 3,200 Syrian refugee families for three months.
WFP is supporting almost 700,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon through an electronic voucher system. Every month, each family e-card is credited with US$27 per person and can be used to buy food in more than 500 WFP-contracted shops across the country. E-cards allow families freedom of choice in their purchases and the convenience of shopping close to their homes.
“Japan’s contribution has come at an opportune time as a staggering 91 percent of Syrian refugees in the country are food insecure to some degree,” said WFP Lebanon Country Director Abdallah Alwardat. “We’re very grateful for these funds which allow us to address the urgent food needs of the most vulnerable refugees in Lebanon.”
WFP is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from governments, the private sector and individuals. Last year, Japan was WFP’s sixth largest donor, providing more than US$175 million to its operations around the world.
“I hope that the Japanese donation will help ease the burden of hunger and poverty faced by the Syrian refugees in Lebanon by helping them obtain adequate food,” said the Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon, Matahiro Yamaguchi. “Japan will continue to support humanitarian initiatives that enhance food security and help ensure the survival of vulnerable communities”.
Since 2012, Japan has contributed a total of US$19.4 million to WFP for the provision of cash-based transfers for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Original source: WFP
Published on 29 August 2018
