RAMALLAH, August 24, 2026 (WAFA) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday signed and exchanged an international agreement with the Government of Japan for a grant of JPY 500 million (approx. USD 3.1 million) to deliver lifesaving food and nutrition assistance to Palestinians facing severe food insecurity, according to the Representative Office of Japan.
The Office said in a press release that the signing ceremony took place in Ramallah between ARAIKE Katsuhiko, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and the Representative of Japan to Palestine, and Kate Newton, Deputy Country Director of WFP Palestine, presided over by Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development of the Palestinian Authority.
It described the grant as a “timely contribution ]that[ provides a vital lifeline to the most vulnerable, and contributes to improving their food security. The grant will enable the purchase of wheat flour and Japanese canned fish to serve the essential food and nutrition needs of over 170,000 people.
“More than ten months into the ceasefire in Gaza, people’s access to food as well as affordability and nutritional values of commodities entering Gaza remain critically at risk. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, an increasingly volatile situation is forcing families into crisis - with widespread violence and an economic downturn taking hold and leaving a third of families unable to afford a nutritious diet,” it read.
It noted that this latest grant brings Japan's cumulative contribution to WFP's response in Palestine since 2023 to approximately USD 69 million, underscoring its strong commitment to humanitarian action and deep understanding of the challenges facing vulnerable communities.
Araike, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs, stated: “With the shrinking space for residences and production activities, including fishing in the sea, a majority of Palestinians in Gaza have not recovered the production and continue to depend on external support of staple food and much needed source of protein to cope with food insecurity.”
“Also, we must not forget that many residents in the West Bank face equally severe conditions to sustain household food supply due to military operations, displacement, and movement restrictions that disrupt their socioeconomic activities by the day and make commodity prices higher,” he added.
He expressed Japan’s hopes that “this modest contribution from Japan, to be delivered by the competent WFP team, will alleviate the daily challenges of the Palestinian people in accessing nutritious food.”
Newton, WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Palestine, voiced the WFP’s gratitude to the people and Government of Japan for their steadfast support to Palestinians, in their hour of need.
“Japan’s generous contribution serves as a powerful expression of solidarity with people affected by conflict, violence and economic hardship in Gaza and the West Bank. To sustain these efforts and protect the progress made against hunger, it is critical that humanitarian assistance can continue to reach people safely, consistently and on time,” she said.
K.F.
