Japan and the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) have agreed to support Bangladeshi farmers and the people displaced from Myanmar.
They announced on Monday that they are to provide $5 million—till December 2020—in order to support local smallholder farmers, along with the displaced population of Myanmar, in Bangladesh.
The agreement was signed by WFP Bangladesh Representative and Country Director Mr Richard Ragan, and the Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh H E Mr Hiroyasu Izumi, during a ceremony at the WFP Country Office.
Ragan said: “We thank the people of Japan for their continued assistance to this ongoing crisis in Cox’s Bazar. The needs remain substantial and this contribution enables us to continue our support to displaced people; while developing new programming to support Bangladeshi smallholder farmers."
Izumi continued: “Both farmers and displaced people will benefit from this project. I sincerely hope that this project will be able to contribute to the development of Bangladesh and support the displaced population in Cox’s Bazar.”
Japan’s contribution will support 2,000 Bangladeshi smallholder farmers in Patuakhali and Cox’s Bazar, with training, new tools, and infrastructure to support their livelihoods.
Part of this contribution will support the expansion of the WFP’s e-voucher programme for the displaced population of Myanmar in Bangladesh. This innovative programme allows participants to obtain food at special outlets contracted by the WFP, in the settlements.
About a quarter of the people displaced from Myanmar, living in Cox’s Bazar, receive assistance by e-voucher, and this contribution from Japan will support 21,000 people with e-voucher assistance for 12 months.
This represents a continuation of Japan’s strong support for the WFP’s response in Bangladesh. Japan contributed $15 million to WFP Bangladesh at the beginning of the response, which provided timely funding in a time of great need.
Japanese funds supported the construction of a bridge at the Kutupalong-Balukhali expansion site, which provides vital access to a section of the settlement that was completely unreachable by trucks carrying food and other essential supplies.
In Cox’s Bazar, the WFP provides food assistance to those who have been displaced from Myanmar; to over 870,000 people, per month.
