Kidapawan City – The United Nations’ World Food Programme (UN-WFP), the world’s largest humanitarian agency, started distributing rice to thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in various evacuation centers in Maguindanao.

The rice rations, according to Mae Chatto, WFP Philippines senior program public information assistant, had come from the government of Japan.

The ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, Makoto Katsura, and representatives from the Philippine government and WFP witnessed the distribution.

Stephen Anderson, WFP country director in the Philippines, said his organization is grateful to the Japanese government for its generous donation.

Anderson said that the donation of Japan was used to purchase some 8,160 metric tons of rice.

It was learned that the Japanese government donated some P455 million (around 860 million Japanese yen) to assist people affected by the ongoing armed conflict in Maguindanao.

“The rice is being distributed to the needy and displaced families. It will also play a critical role in complementing longer-term food security initiatives in Mindanao, thus building the stake of conflict affected population in the peace process,” Anderson said.

Japan, the third largest donor to the WFP, has made significant contributions since 2006 totalling about P577.5 million (1.1 billion Japanese yen).

Globally, it donated a total contribution of some $190.7 million, reports from the WFP said.

The WFP, according to Chatto, has continued to support the government-led response for relief and recovery to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the age-old conflict in Mindanao by addressing the food security needs of vulnerable people in war-torn areas.