The Government of Japan has decided to extend grant aid (food aid) of 450 million JPY to the Republic of Burundi. Notes to this effect were exchanged on November 24 (Tue) (local time: same day) in Bujumbura (capital of Burundi) between Mr. Shigeo Iwatani, Ambassador of Japan to Burundi, and S.E.M. Augustin Nsanze, Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation of Burundi.
Burundi is in a period of recovery from the civil war that began in 1993 and lasted over ten years. However, the country is experiencing a chronic food shortage due to the destruction of agricultural land caused by the civil war, drought, and the increase of repatriated refugees. Burundi's basic living environment, as indicated by its rank of 174 of 182 countries (2007) in the United Nations human development index, is in an extremely difficult situation. In light of the situation in Burundi, this grant aid provides food assistance to help relieve the country's serious food shortage.
This food aid is part of Japan's commitment to Africa announced at the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in May 2008 to strengthen cooperation towards efforts in the agricultural and food production sectors of African countries.
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The Republic of Burundi is located in Central Africa, covers a land area of 27,800 square kilometers, has a population of approximately 8.07 million people (World Bank, 2008), and a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of 140 USD (World Bank, 2008).
