Japan provides rice to typhoon victims in Attapeu and Saravan provinces
(KPL) More than 9,000 people in 21 villages of the districts of Ta-oy and Samuoy of Saravan province and Samakhixay, Sanxay and Saysettha districts of Attapeu province will receive rice donated by the Government of Japan to the Government of the Lao PDR through East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve Pilot Project.
The Government of Japan has contributed US$ 280.000 to the Pilot Project for Lao government to receive rice from Japan as emergency reserve to mitigate temporary but serious food shortage due to natural disaster.
Through the Japanese government’s contribution, the Lao government has received 347 metric tons of Japanese rice, all of which have already arrived in the Lao PDR and will be delivered to Attapeu and Saravane provinces that were severely hit by typhoon Ketsana last year.
East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve Pilot Project started for better food security and poverty reduction in East Asia in 2004 among Asean 10+3 countries including Japan.
Considering the critical important of food security in this region, the Japanese Government will continue to support East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve System.
The handover ceremony was held at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare yesterday between H.E Mr. Masaaki Miyashita, Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR, and Ms. Onechanh Thammavong, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare. Ms. Eri Kudo, WFP Country Representative also attended the ceremony.
WFP has been and will be involved in transporting the rice from Japan to Laos and within Laos.
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