The Government of Japan has extended a vital lifeline to Zimbabwe through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), allocating a substantial US$1 million (¥200,000,000) to aid over 40,000 vulnerable individuals in Zimbabwe.
The timely assistance, comprising 1,304 metric tonnes of essential cereals, pulses, and vegetable oil, aims to fortify food-insecure regions during the impending 2024/25 lean season, spanning from October this year to March next year.
Speaking to journalists in Harare, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Shinichi Yamanaka expressed the nation’s unwavering commitment to alleviating crises.
“Japan is committed to supporting communities in need of emergency food assistance. I hope that this assistance will help vulnerable people to overcome the current crisis,” said Ambassador Yamanaka
The Lean Season Assistance initiative by WFP aligns seamlessly with Zimbabwe’s Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy, striving to forestall household food stock depletion, curtail harmful coping mechanisms, and shield the most susceptible from plunging further into food insecurity.
WFP’s Representative and Country Director, Francesca Erdelmann, expressed gratitude for Japan’s benevolence.
“We appreciate the generosity of the Government of Japan, as this donation will significantly contribute to our efforts in alleviating hunger and improving the lives of those most in need. The coming lean season could see more people requiring food assistance due to the impact of El Nino. Japan’s contribution will go a long way to ensure we can help communities…” she said.
Forecasts predict exacerbated challenges due to the El Nino phenomenon, exacerbating food and nutrition insecurity across the region, with diminished harvests and scarce livelihood prospects amplifying the severity of the 2024/2025 lean season.
Japan’s steadfast partnership with WFP in Zimbabwe dates back to 2019, with cumulative contributions exceeding US$25.5 million towards food assistance and resilience-building initiatives for vulnerable communities.
