Japan Provides USD 2.5M Emergency Grant Aid to Combat Drought in Zambia and Namibia
The Japanese Government has announced an Emergency Grant Aid of USD 2.5 million to address the severe drought impacting Zambia and Namibia. This aid is part of Japan’s humanitarian effort to alleviate food insecurity caused by the most severe drought in recent history, driven by El Niño.
The grant will be allocated through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), with Zambia receiving USD 2 million and Namibia USD 500,000. This support aims to provide urgent food relief to the affected populations.
Japan’s government has emphasized its commitment to enhancing food security in Southern Africa by cooperating closely with the governments of Zambia and Namibia.
The region has faced critical food shortages due to a drastic reduction in rainfall—receiving only 20% of its usual precipitation—and a significant drop in cereal harvests. This has been compounded by soaring global food prices.
Zambia, in particular, has been hit hard, with over one million people in 84 out of 117 districts affected by the drought, which has been declared a national disaster.
The country is experiencing its driest agricultural season in more than four decades, leading to substantial crop losses, increased livestock deaths, and exacerbated poverty.
Dr. Tobias Mulimbika, Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan, praised Japan for its swift response, highlighting the critical need for aid as Zambia battles unprecedented agricultural challenges.
The Ambassador also expressed gratitude to the WFP Parliamentary League of Japan for advocating for assistance to Southern Africa during the twenty-sixth General Assembly session on May 30, 2024.
The WFP Parliamentary League of Japan has pledged ongoing support, including providing Space Satellite weather technology systems to help mitigate the effects of climate change in the region.
This is in a statement issued by Faith Nabeene Chilube, First Secretary, Press and Public Relations Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, Tokyo, Japan.
