Japan give $5mil aid to combat Malawi food crisis

The Japanese government has made a contribution of US$5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for food assistance in Malawi as the country faces the worst food insecurity in a decade due to weather-related shocks.

Minister of finance (R) interacting with Japanese Ambassodor to Malawi Shuichiro Nishioka and officials from Word Food Programme after receiving donation (C)Stanley Makuti
Minister of finance (R) interacting with Japanese Ambassodor to Malawi Shuichiro Nishioka and officials from Word Food Programme after receiving donation (C)Stanley Makuti
Minister of finance (R) in a discussion with Japanese Ambassodor to Malawi Shuichiro Nishioka at the Ministry of Finance (C) Stanley Makuti
Minister of finance (R) in a discussion with Japanese Ambassodor to Malawi Shuichiro Nishioka at the Ministry of Finance (C) Stanley Makuti

The WFP says in a statement that most of the funds will go towards WFP’s relief operation that is reaching 2.4 million people made food insecure by a combination of devastating floods and prolonged dry spells which led to a bad harvest last year.

The Japanese support is critical at this peak time of the hunger season. Vulnerable families have exhausted their food stocks and, with food prices continuing to rise, their access to affordable and nutritious food from markets is increasingly limited.

“Japan is pleased to support WFP’s relief activities in Malawi,” says Japanese Ambassador Shuichiro Nishioka. “The funds will help to improve food security among Malawians experiencing food shortages and also among the refugees in the country. I sincerely hope this will help strengthen the resilience of Malawians, particularly the most vulnerable.”

This support enables WFP to continue providing the most food-insecure people with a range of assistance including maize, pulses and Super Cereal. Super Cereal, a fortified corn soya blend, is given to pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as children under the age of two – to prevent micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition.

In addition to life-saving food assistance, the contribution from Japan will also support early-recovery activities and basic social protection interventions such as school meals. These enable children, particularly girls, to remain in school during times of food shortage when their parents would otherwise take them out of class to help find food for the household.

Investments in early-recovery and social protection activities are critical to maintain development gains in the face of shocks such as the El Niño-related drought. Part of the contribution from Japan will also go towards providing food assistance for refugees in Malawi.

“We’re grateful for this significant contribution and for our continued partnership with the Government of Japan,” says WFP Country Representative Coco Ushiyama. “While helping us meet the immediate needs of vulnerable families, this contribution is also helping to build a food- and nutrition-secure future for the people of Malawi.”

While the Government of Japan and other donors have been generous in their support, WFP still urgently requires US$35 million to continue full food and cash assistance through to the end of April.

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Winston Msowoya
Winston Msowoya
8 years ago

Japan thanks for your generosity of US$5million which is meant to buy food for our starving citizens,but we are very rueful to inform the Japanese Government that the funds will end up in the pockets of Muthalika and his monstrous serviiles including the Minister of Finance who has seen the economy of our country slip from his hands without his due attention or awareness.Again,thanks for your golden congeniality and the great people of Japan to feed our helpless masses of our people in a country that attained her independence some 52 years ago,due to unprecedented lack of moral dimension.

Kenkkk
Kenkkk
8 years ago

And where are your so called Chinese friends when it comes to humanitarian aid such as hunger and flooding? Will people eat the stadiums or hotels or roads that they build?

Za uchitsilu basi mbabva za dpp inu.

Uchitsilu Nsamaonetsa
Uchitsilu Nsamaonetsa
8 years ago
Reply to  Kenkkk

You are a very stupid individual. In January there was a heading on this page about the Chinese giving Malawi a Buffet of MK 5.2 Billion to buy maize.

And you are saying where are the Chinese?

Kenkkk
Kenkkk
8 years ago

They should be doing that many times. Westerners are the one who have been feeding us for many years while the Chinese busy constructing roads.

Uchitsilu Nsamaonetsa.
Uchitsilu Nsamaonetsa.
8 years ago
Reply to  Kenkkk

Be serious how long have Chinese be on the scene?

Kenkkk
Kenkkk
8 years ago

Many years.

Uchitsilu Nsamaonetsa.
Uchitsilu Nsamaonetsa.
8 years ago

Kenkkk, need to apologize for calling you stupid. Still not convinced that the Chines have not done their fair share on this hunger issue.

Kenkkk
Kenkkk
8 years ago

Don’t worry, no need for you to do so, it is part of blog discussions but point taken. We just agree to disagree.

chemataka
chemataka
8 years ago

zithela workshop itipeza ndi 15%, osapatsa ADMARC bwanji? tikangule zaulele ndizovuta zitidusa koma ADMARC alot of pipo will benefit.

Malawian
Malawian
8 years ago

The problem is that may be only 20% will reach the intended beneficiaries, the rest will be used on workshops and other irrelevant activities

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