Japan renews commitment to support people facing hunger and malnutrition in Chad

Persistent insecurity, the climate crisis, and high food and fuel prices have exacerbated food insecurity in Chad, which hosts 592,800 refugees, more than any other country in West and Central Africa. The refugee population increased by nearly seven percent in 2022, due to political instability, social unrest, and insecurity in neighbouring countries.

The contribution will be used to provide in-kind food assistance or food vouchers to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons for 12 months, as well as daily nutritious meals to school children from host communities, to encourage parents to send their children to school. During the 2021-2022 school year, more than one in every two refugee children in Chad were out of school.

“Japan is a very important partner to WFP Chad, they were the first donor to provide timely funding for the lean season period in 2022, and one of the first donors in 2023, to provide support when food stocks from previous harvests are strained forcing many families in Chad to skip meals or resort to eating unhealthy foods,” said Pierre Honnorat, WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Chad. “We are very grateful for the generosity of the people of Japan at a critical time when most economies around the world are going through recession.” 

According to the latest “Cadre Harmonisé” food security analysis, at least 1.5 million people in Chad will have irregular access to safe and nutritious food during the lean season between June and August 2023. Meanwhile, 1.36 million children suffered moderate acute malnutrition in 2022. 

WFP will provide a monthly food basket to families experiencing irregular access to safe and nutritious food during the lean season - June to August 2023, in support of the government’s national response plan. Pregnant, nursing mothers, as well children under five will receive specialized nutritious products, to prevent risks of malnutrition.  

WFP urgently requires USD 140 million to continue its refugee assistance programme and provide life-saving assistance to communities in Chad affected by the crisis.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.