Ending Hunger: WFP Receives Boost from Japan to Support Vulnerable Persons
Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable persons in the Far North, North, Adamawa, East, North West and South West Regions of Cameroon will receive food and nutrition assistance in the days ahead.
This is thanks to an accord signed between the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Japan.
The accord worth 1.83 million USD (over one billion CFAF) will serve the WFP in providing food items like rice, yellow split peas and super cereal plus amongst others, to these 185,468 vulnerable persons.
Why the Six Aforementioned Regions?
The 2020 Humanitarian Report Plan indicates that the crisis in the North West and South Rest Regions has led to the displacement of over one million people, thereby affecting livelihoods.
The Far North Region on its part is plagued by insecurity from the Boko Haram insurgency which has also led to people being displaced from their initial settlements.
As for the North, Adamawa and East Regions, they host a high number of refugees. Reports indicate that as of March 2021, the crises in Northern Nigeria and the Central African Republic had led to the influx of 436,665 refugees (320,970 from the Central African Republic and 115,695 from Nigeria) to Cameroon. The report also indicates that about 321,000 Cameroonians have been internally displaced along the Cameroon-Nigeria borders.
WFP also adds that the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the economy of Cameroon, especially the source of livelihood for the most vulnerable people.
All the above situations have led to food insecurity in the country.
It is also worth mentioning that according to the “Fill the Nutrient Gap” study of 2021, the Far North, East, Adamawa, North and North West Regions are the regions with the greatest percentage of non-affordability of nutritious diets in Cameroon.
WFP’s Commitment to the Vulnerable
WFP will use the grant from the Chinese Government to assist over 180,000 vulnerable persons including children (those of school age), pregnant and lactating women and people living with HIV.
The Country Director of WFP Cameroon, Wanja Kaaria has expressed her institution’s gratitude to their Japanese donors.
She indicates that partners like Japan are needed especially as the WFP is moving towards rolling out its five-year second generation strategic plan to run from 2022 to 2026.
On his part, the representative of the Japanese Government, Ambassador Tsutomu Osawa expressed his country’s concern for vulnerable persons especially within the context of COVID-19.
With such a boost from Japan, the World Food Programme is sure to continue with its mission of reaching out to vulnerable persons with food and other nutrition-related needs.
Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi