Port Sudan – October 6 (Darfur 24)
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a JPY 400 million (approximately US$2.7 million) contribution from the Government of Japan to support school meals for children in Sudan.
In a press statement, WFP said the funding aims to boost school attendance and improve learning outcomes as schools reopen across the country.
“This generous contribution from the Government of Japan comes at a critical time when schools are reopening in Sudan,” said Laurent Bukera, WFP Sudan Country Director and Representative. “School meals will help vulnerable children resume their education and increase their success rate in school. We are deeply grateful to the Government and people of Japan for their continued solidarity with the people of Sudan.”
Mizuuchi Kentaro, Chargé d’Affaires of Japan to Sudan, said the ongoing war has deprived many children of their right to education. “We hope the school meals provided through WFP and Japan’s cooperation will encourage children to access both food and education,” he added.
Japan’s new contribution brings its total support to WFP’s operations in Sudan to US$21 million since 2022, covering 13 percent of WFP’s funding needs for school meals over the next six months. WFP still requires US$14.8 million to continue the programme between October 2025 and March 2026.
Sudan’s war has triggered the world’s largest hunger crisis, with about 25 million people facing acute food insecurity and 638,000 in catastrophic conditions. As fighting eases in some parts of the country, investing in early recovery efforts such as education is becoming increasingly critical.