Joint News Release

8 September 2016

JAPAN DONATION BOOSTS WFPS ASSISTANCE TO

REFUGEES IN TANZANIA
DAR ES SALAAM The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a
contribution of US$ 1.8 million from the Government of Japan for food and nutrition
assistance to more than 200,000 refugees in northwest Tanzania.

Major General Projest Rwegasira, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs,

officiated a handover ceremony at Dar es Salaam Port with His Excellency Masaharu
Yoshida, Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, and Michael Dunford, WFP Tanzania Country
Representative also in attendance.
The Government of Japan is proud to announce its US$ 1.8 million contribution to WFPs
emergency food assistance to refugees in Tanzania, said Ambassador Yoshida.
The Ambassador also extended his appreciation to the Government of Tanzania for its high
commitment and great generosity to host and support refugees in need of humanitarian
assistance.
These joint efforts are certain to improve the food security and livelihoods of the refugees,
and enhance peace and stability in northwestern Tanzania, Ambassador Yoshida added.
In total, 1,800 metric tonnes of food commodities have been purchased with funds
contributed by the Government of Japan. This includes fortified oil, micronutrient powders,
and 1,100 metric tonnes of locally-purchased maize. Also purchased with the contribution
were fortified blended cereals to make a nutritious porridge, formulated for mothers and
young children at risk of undernutrition.
WFP greatly appreciates the generous contribution from the Government and people of
Japan, WFP Country Representative Michael Dunford said at the ceremony. This
contribution helps WFPs efforts to ensure minimum food and nutrition requirements are
provided to the refugees currently residing in Tanzania.

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Assistance has been substantially scaled up due to an influx of over 153,000 refugees from
Burundi, following an outbreak of violence in the Central African nation last year. The
Burundians have joined an existing caseload of some 65,000 refugees, most of them from the
Democratic Republic of Congo. Currently, the refugees are hosted at three camps in Kigoma
region, Mtendeli, Nduta and Nyarugusu. Hundreds of Burundians are still arriving every
week. Due to continued unrest in their homeland, a return seems unlikely in the foreseeable
future.
In his remarks Major General Rwegasira acknowledged the Japan contribution, Whether in
the humanitarian, or the social economic front, over the years Japan has continued to be one
of the leading supporters to the Government and people of Tanzania.
Japan has made contributions to WFPs refugee operations in Tanzania totalling US$ 9.2
million over the last six years.
WFP spends approximately US$ 5 million every month on basic food needs for refugees in
Tanzania. Between now and December 2016, an additional US$ 6.7 million is required to
ensure WFP Tanzania can continue to provide food assistance to the full caseload of refugees.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food
assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build
resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.
Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media and @wfp_tanzania
For more information please contact:

Fizza Moloo, World Food Programme, Fizza.Moloo@wfp.org, tel. +255 784 720 022