Japan donates $197M to U.N. food program

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Japan has donated nearly $197 million to the United Nations' World Food Program, which officials said Tuesday is the largest-ever single gift to the agency.

The agency said in a release it will use the money to provide essential food and nutritional assistance to millions of people in 20 countries in Africa and Asia.

"We are extremely grateful for this substantial supplementary aid package and Japan's continued commitment to promoting human security and peace-building," said Mohamed Saleheen, director of the program's office in Japan. "This is proof of Japan's strong leadership in global food and nutrition security."

Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger and Uganda are among the countries that will benefit from Japan's largess.