Maputo, Mozambique: Today, the Government of Japan has announced its funding commitment of $3.6 million to support UN Entities, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), working to address the urgent needs of vulnerable people affected by the crisis in Cabo Delgado and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement was made during an official ceremony in Maputo, attended by the Government of Mozambique representatives from National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD), Ministry of Health and Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Action (MGCAS), Ambassador of Japan to Mozambique, his Excellency, Mr. Kimura Hajime, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Mozambique, Ms. Myrta Kaulard, and the UN Representatives from WFP, Ms. Antonella D’Aprile, UNFPA, Ms. Andrea Wojnar, and UNICEF, Ms. Maria Luisa Fornara.

Under its supplementary aid budget, the generous support from the Government of Japan enables selected UN Entities to strengthen and scale-up their support to the Government of Mozambique to provide internally displaced people and host communities with life-saving and life-sustaining food assistance, livelihood support, sexual and reproductive health care services linked to the prevention and response to gender-based violence, and more.

H.E the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. KIMURA Hajime said, “Mozambique faces severe challenges such as the deteriorating security situation in Cabo Delgado. The impact of COVID-19 in Mozambique has caused deep economic challenges. The Government of Japan wishes to alleviate these challenges, as both countries share good bilateral and personal relations. Therefore, the Government of Japan decided to extend the Grant Aid of $3,687,000（three million six hundred and eighty-seven thousand US dollars) for approximately 670,000 internally displaced persons and their host communities in the Provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa. We will continue to support the fight of Mozambique against the insecurity as well as the pandemic. Japan is always on your side.”

An estimated 1.3 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection in the three northern provinces of Mozambique - Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula - due to the conflict in Cabo Delgado. Nearly 670,000 people were internally displaced in northern Mozambique by the end of 2020, including almost 580,000 people uprooted from their homes in 2020 alone. The COVID-19 pandemic and the recurrent climate shocks has further disrupted the limited services available and increased the urgency to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.

"Japan's generous contribution will save the lives of tenths of thousands of people who fled armed violence in the extreme north of Mozambique, losing everything; It will also support tenths of thousands who are sharing the little they have to host those who fled”, affirmed the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Mozambique, Ms. Myrta Kaulard. “This is a great demonstration of solidarity amongst people in the world and of the value of multilateralism; I hope this example will be followed by many others to meet desperate humanitarian needs in the North of Mozambique", continued Ms. Myrta Kaulard.

The WFP Representative in Mozambique, Ms. Antonella D’Aprile, stressed how preoccupying is the food security situation in Cabo Delgado Province as people fleeing their areas of origin to seek security also leave behind their livelihoods and assets. “This trend has also impacted the food security and nutritional status of displaced people; We are extremely appreciative for the Government of Japan’s support which not only allows us to deliver life-saving food assistance, but also to help rebuild livelihoods and strengthen our efforts along the humanitarian, development, peace nexus”, commented the WFP Representative. 

“Women and girls are already among the most vulnerable in the Cabo Delgado humanitarian crisis, which is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its overwhelmingly negative impact on women’s health and financial situation. UNFPA is grateful to the Government of Japan for its commitment, which reinforces the urgency for continued sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services. The present and future well-being of those affected is greatly improved when they can enjoy healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries, and physical and psychological support,” shared Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA Representative in Mozambique.

“As a result of the conflict in Cabo Delgado, there are children who either lost their parents or have been separated from them. These children, including those with disabilities, are now particularly vulnerable. Thanks to this generous funding from the people of Japan we will be able to work with the Government and partners on protecting them while we trace their parents to either reunite families or to find primary legal or customary caregivers. The funds will also support our efforts to strengthen the capacity of communities to prevent child abuse, neglect and exploitation through communication campaigns and community work. Moreover, we want to support the justice system so that crimes against these vulnerable children can be prosecuted.”, said Maria-Luisa Fornara, UNICEF Representative in Mozambique.

The Government of Japan is a longstanding partner of the United Nations in Mozambique. Over the past 5 years, Japan has generously contributed USD 19,3 million to different UN Entities, including WFP and UNICEF.

NOTE FOR EDITORS

Funding to WFP:
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

Taking into account the high vulnerability of displaced persons, WFP’s main two objectives through the $2 million USD funding support from the Government of Japan, include: (1) meeting the immediate food security needs of more than 37,000 conflict-affected displaced persons in the districts of Mueda, Montepuez, Balama, Namuno, Chiuri, Ancuabe, Pemba, Metuge, and Ibo; and (2) provide livelihood support activities to ensure that 50,000 displaced persons have access to more stable income-generating livelihoods while supporting the reintegration in the society. 

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