Japan’s support, which has been pledged in two separate grants of US$18.4 million and US$12 million, will be used to provide 2.1 million people with general food assistance for one month. These monthly food rations of staples including wheat flour, vegetable oil, pulses, sugar and salt, have been essential in preventing the situation in Yemen from deteriorating further.

A further 88,000 school children will receive a daily nutritious snack through WFP’s school feeding programme for two months while 850,000 people in urban areas will be provided with vouchers they can redeem for basic food items. Japan’s contribution will also support 250,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, who will be provided with vital nutrition support, protecting them from disease and ensuring their babies get the best possible start in life.

Economic collapse and outbreaks of disease have exacerbated the food crisis in war-torn Yemen. The provision of humanitarian food assistance remains critical, while investment in restoring people’s livelihoods and rebuilding infrastructure is also needed to put Yemen on the road to recovery.

Japan has been a strong and consistent supporter of WFP’s operations in Yemen, contributing a total of US$84.8 million over the past three years.