The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Japan has donated US$ 1.5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for providing immediate assistance to the cyclone-hit people of Bangladesh.

The WFP would use the Japanese donation to distribute some 1,400 tonnes of high-energy biscuits to the cyclone victims, a WFP press release said.

So far, the WFP has distributed over 400 tonnes of biscuits and over 750 tonnes of rice to more than 1.2 million people in the worst-affected areas through land, water and airways, it said.

The UN agency plans to provide over 71,000 metric tons of food for 2.2 million people at a cost of 52 million US dollars over the next six months.

"It is important to maintain food supplies to the cyclone-stricken areas and WFP is continuing delivery of fortified biscuits to give much-needed help to the people in the affected areas," WFP Bangladesh Representative Douglas Broderick said.

"Based on the outcome of a comprehensive UN assessment conducted immediately after the cyclone, WFP started its support to the victims with nutritious food," he said.

Globally, Japan is the fifth largest donor of the WFP and has contributed over 70 million US dollars to the WFP in 2007, the release added.