WFP AND JAPAN PROVIDE FOOD RATIONS TO PUPILS IN CAMEROON AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has resumed its school feeding support to more than 52,000 children including internally displaced persons and host communities in the Far North region of Cameroon, with the support from the Japanese government.

Responding to the school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WFP is providing food rations consisting of rice, beans oil and salt to the parents of pupils benefiting from school feeding activity to ensure good nutrition when students study from home. The Government of Japan has provided USD 2.7 million to support this programme and further nutrition activities in Cameroon.

“An effective response to the current pandemic must include the most vulnerable,” said Mr. Ronald Sibanda, WFP Country Director ad interim in Cameroon. “Children are the future of this country and it is important they receive assistance to continue their studies, while respecting preventive measures to avoid transmission of COVID-19,” he added.

“In this time of pandemic, the Government of Japan is profoundly attentive about the situation of children in Cameroon, who couldn’t continue to receive daily nutritious meals due to the closure of school. I am glad to support the Government of Cameroon together with WFP by implementing this innovative way to secure the food supply for the pupils,” said H.E. Mr. OSAWA Tsutomu, the Ambassador of Japan to Cameroon.

WFP distributes food to parents with gloves, soap and water containers to ensure hygiene practices are respected. Participants were sensitized on the COVID-19 pandemic, respecting its prevention measures, and asked to come to the distribution sites with masks and to respect social distancing.

Cameroon’s Far North region, particularly the border area with Nigeria, have been plagued by violence, with repeated attacks by non-state armed groups since 2014, resulting in Nigerian refugee’s influx as well as displacement within Cameroon. These numerous population displacements disrupted the local economy, agriculture and pastoral production.    

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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.

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For more information, please contact (email address: Frederick.martin@wfp.org):

Frederick Martin, WFP/Yaounde, Mob. +237 691 101 247