WFP has welcomed a €1.5 million donation to its Bhutanese refugee operation in Nepal from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO).

"We are very pleased that ECHO has decided to once again support the refugees who have been living in refugee camps in Nepal for over 16 years,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director in Nepal. “The Commission has consistently been one of the biggest providers of humanitarian support to the refugees."

Restrictions

At a cost of nearly €18.5 million, WFP aims to provide food aid to over 108,000 Bhutanese refugees over the next two years. Donors have contributed €8.5 million towards the appeal.

Under their current status, refugees are restricted from engaging in economic activities outside the camps and from owning land – making humanitarian assistance, like the food aid through the support of the donor community, critical to fulfilling their basic needs.

Contributions

Over the last six years, the humanitarian department of the European Commission has contributed €13.4 million to WFP’s efforts to support the Bhutanese refugees.

Since 1992, WFP has been providing essential food aid to the Bhutanese refugees at the request of the Government of Nepal and in close coordination with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Paul Risley
WFP/Bangkok
Tel. +66 1 701 9208
paul.risley@wfp.org

Brenda Barton
Deputy Director
Communications
WFP/Rome
Tel. +39-06-65132602
Cell. +39-3472582217
(ISDN line available)
brenda.barton@wfp.org

Gregory Barrow
WFP/London
Tel. +44-20-72409001
Cell. +44-7968-008474
gregory.barrow@wfp.org

Christiane Berthiaume
WFP/Geneva
Tel. +41-22-9178564
Cell. +41-792857304
christiane.berthiaume
@wfp.org

Ellen Gustafson
WFP/New York
Tel. +1-917-3675070
Cell. +1-917-6171276
gustafsone@un.org

Heather Sutliff
WFP/Nepal
Tel. +977 1 5535694
Cell +977 9851019098
heather.sutcliff@wfp.org

Claire Barrault