TOKYO: The World Food Programme (WFP) signed an agreement on Sunday with the Government of Japan and exchanged notes for a grant of 500 million Japanese Yen (approximately $3.1 million USD) to provide vital food assistance to Palestinians facing acute levels of food insecurity.

The signing ceremony took place in Ramallah between ARAIKI Katsuhiko, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine, and Ms. Kate Newton, WFP Deputy Country Director in Palestine, in the presence of Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development of the Palestinian Authority.

A statement by WFP said as the most vulnerable families in Gaza and the West Bank face acute levels of food insecurity due to the conflict, this timely contribution from Japan provides vital support to the most vulnerable Palestinians and contributes to strengthening their food security.

The Israeli occupation has been imposing blockade and starvation policy against the Palestinian people, according to reports.

The grant will allow for the purchase of wheat flour and Japanese canned fish to meet the essential nutritional needs of over 170,000 people.

More than ten months after the ceasefire in Gaza, the population’s access to food, as well as the affordability and nutritional value of goods entering the territory, remains at severe risk. At the same time, rising tension and instability in the West Bank place Palestinian families in a cycle of crisis, amid escalating Israeli violence and worsening economic deterioration, leaving one-third of families there unable to afford a nutritious diet.

This grant brings Japan’s total contribution to the WFP in Palestine since 2023 to approximately $69 million USD, confirming Tokyo’s firm commitment to humanitarian work and its deep understanding of the challenges facing the most vulnerable communities.

Mr. Araiki, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs, said in the statement issued by the program: “Given the shrinking space available for housing and productive activities, including fishing at sea, most Palestinians in Gaza have not been able to restore their production capacities and continue to rely on external support to provide essential food and protein sources that are desperately needed to face food insecurity. We must also not overlook that many residents of the West Bank face equally harsh conditions to secure their families’ food needs, in light of military operations, displacement, and movement restrictions that hinder their social and economic activities day by day, and lead to rising commodity prices.

Japan hopes that this modest contribution, which the WFP team will implement with its customary efficiency, will contribute to alleviating the daily challenges the Palestinian people face in accessing nutritious food.”

Ms. Kate Newton, WFP Deputy Country Director in Palestine, expressed deep gratitude to the people and Government of Japan “for their steadfast support for Palestinians at a time when they are in dire need. She said that “Japan’s generous contribution embodies strong solidarity with those affected by conflict, violence, and economic hardship in Gaza and the West Bank.

“To sustain these efforts and protect the progress made in fighting hunger, it is essential to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches people safely, regularly, and in a timely manner.”