The Government of Japan offered one million dollars (about 852 thousand euros) to support food security for the benefit of 190 thousand people in the eastern regions of Cuba affected by the Hurricane MelissaThe World Food Program (WFP) reported this Wednesday.
“The Japanese contribution will support food assistance through an emergency ration from WFP (WFP) that will be delivered as a donation through the warehouse network for one month,” said the humanitarian organization.
The aforementioned basket includes 1.5 kg of rice, 0.9 kg of grains and 1 liter of oil and will benefit approximately 190 thousand people, according to PMA.
Japan donates 1 million dollars to #WFPCuba to support food security after the #HurricaneMelissa. Thanks to this solidarity, nearly 190 thousand people will receive food assistance in the most affected provinces. Together for recovery!
https://t.co/yuATsOyClD pic.twitter.com/D8E8KKY2T3
— WFP Cuba (@WFP_Cuba) December 24, 2025
The WFP representative in Cuba, Etienne Labande, stated that “this contribution reflects the importance of international cooperation to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.”
Meanwhile, the Japanese ambassador to Cuba, Nakamura Kazuhito, considered that “this emergency aid is a sign of the solidarity of the Japanese people with the Cuban people, especially in this difficult time.”
“The largest financial support to WFP Cuba to date”
According to the press release, also released on the website of the United Nations agencythe donation continues others made by the Asian country.
The organization highlighted that it has assisted 600,000 people in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguín, in eastern Cuba, and plans to reach 900,000 people in the next six months.
This “represents the largest financial support granted to WFP Cuba to date, thus reaffirming Japan’s commitment to food security and the resilience of Cuban communities,” according to the organization.
Cuban state media reported on Monday that Japan will also cooperate with Unicef in a project valued at one million dollars aimed at vulnerable communities in three provinces in eastern Cuba to improve infrastructure and water, sanitation, hygiene and health services.
Japan and Unicef promote a million-dollar project for “vulnerable communities” in eastern Cuba
Since the impact of Melissa at the end of October, multilateral agencies, NGOs such as the Red Cross and countries such as China, Venezuela, Spain, Colombia, South Korea and Mexico have sent food and humanitarian aid to Cuba.
The hurricane crossed the east of the island with category 3 (out of 5) on the Saffir-Simpson scale with winds of 200 kilometers per hour and rainfall of up to 400 millimeters in some parts of the country.
The extensive material damage—but without deaths, according to the Cuban Government—covers more than 100,000 affected homes, more than 2,000 educational centers, some 100,000 hectares of crops, and transportation, telecommunications, electricity, and water supply infrastructure.
