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Germany Provides More Critical Support For Refugee Food Assistance In Ethiopia

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Ethiopia
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WFP
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ADDIS ABABA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has today received confirmation of a contribution of €4 million (more than US$4.3 million) from the Federal Republic of Germany towards the food needs of refugees sheltered in Ethiopia.

The new funding will help WFP to provide monthly food rations and cash-based transfers for more than 600,000 refugees from Eritrea, South Sudan and Somalia for the rest of 2016 and for the next two years.

“For Germany, refugee issues have a high political priority. We are happy to provide this contribution in order to improve the living conditions of refugees in Ethiopia,” said the German Ambassador to Ethiopia, Joachim Schmidt. “This is part of Germany’s continued commitment to support Ethiopia in its position as the largest host of refugees on the African continent.”

Refugees in Ethiopia have few opportunities to provide for themselves, as they are living in camps with limited livelihood opportunities. WFP will begin using half of the German contribution this year towards immediate needs, and the rest will help meet refugees’ food needs in the future.

“This multi-year support from Germany is critical, as it allows WFP to plan ahead and know with certainty that a portion of the refugees will be catered for in the coming three years,” said John Aylieff, WFP Representative and Country Director.

Since 2015 alone, Germany has granted more than €30 million (close to US$33 million) to WFP’s relief and refugee operations in Ethiopia, placing it among its top five donors.

Ethiopia is currently home to more than 700,000 refugees, the highest number in any country in Africa. Of these, WFP supports more than 600,000 with essential monthly food rations consisting of cereals, vegetable oil, pulses, sugar and salt, as well as with cash, which allows refugees to buy fresh foods and essential household items.

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media @wfp_ethiopia @wfp_africa

For more information please contact: Melese Awoke, WFP/Addis Ababa, Mob. +251 (0) 911 201 981 Benjamin Hanna, Head of Press Section, German Embassy Addis Ababa, Mob +251 (911) 254085