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WFP transitions out of food assistance programme to refugees from Bhutan

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Nepal
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WFP
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KATHMANDU – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will transition out of its food assistance program in Nepal to refugees from Bhutan starting in January 2019. The programme, spanning over 25 years, has helped thousands of refugees meet their daily nutritional needs since their arrival in Nepal in 1992. This transition follows a successful resettlement programme of the refugees to countries including the USA, Canada and Australia.

“Over the past 25 years, WFP has worked in close partnership with the Government of Nepal to provide for the needs of more than 113,000 refugees, and disbursed more than USD 86 million (NPR 10 billion) in food and cash assistance,” said WFP Country Director Pippa Bradford. “WFP remains committed to helping the government to find ways to address their concerns, and find sustainable solutions,” she added, speaking on the well-being of the remaining 6,500 refugees.

From December, WFP will disburse the last remaining funds as a ‘close-out package’ ensuring that all refugees receive funds for three to six months, with priority given to the most vulnerable. After the transition, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will continue to provide targeted cash assistance to the most socio-economically vulnerable refugees to meet some of their basic needs.

WFP and UNHCR will continue to work with the Government of Nepal and other countries to find sustainable alternative solutions for the remaining refugees.

The United Nations World Food Programme - saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.

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