Press Release
Emergency Grant Aid for Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq
Embassy of Japan |
1. Emergency Grant Aid to Iraq (1) On February 23, Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid totaling $104.5 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Iraq.
(2) The new Government of Iraq, which was established in May 2006, has been making efforts in nation-building, including the formulation of the International Compact with Iraq (document concerning partnership with the international community toward the nation-building of Iraq by the initiative of the Iraqi government). Japan intends to continue supporting the reconstruction of Iraq through the Official Development Assistance, including this emergency grant aid.
2. Concrete Content of Assistance (1) With a view to promoting national reconciliation in Iraq , the Government of Japan will give special consideration to the geographical balance of assistance, including the Sunni sect and the Kurdistan region. This assistance will be implemented through the international organizations mainly under the FY2006 supplementary budget. The specific categories are: Basic Human Needs (health, displaced persons, food assistance), Security (capacity building for police, agencies engaged in border control, socio-economic reintegration of veterans and militias), and Capacity Building (in the Governorate of Al-Muthanna).
(2) Project titles and budgets are as follows: (a) Basic Human Needs (BHN): $73.6 million ((i), (ii), and (iii) are for health, (iv) and (v) for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), (vi) refugees, and (vii) food assistance)
(i) Rehabilitation of Ramadi and Tikreet Hospitals (UNDP: $38 million) Rehabilitation of two major hospitals in the Sunni Region which remain devastated due to the security situation.
(ii) Conflict Victim Assistance in the Northern Region of Iraq (UNDP: $12.1 million) Medical assistance to victims of mines and chemical weapons in the Kurdistan region.
(iii) Strengthening Basic Health Services for Children and Women in three Northern Governorates of Iraq (UNICEF: $7 million) Medical assistance for children and women where the improvement of health centers remains insufficient.
(iv) Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Iraq (UNHCR: $5 million) Protection, shelter and emergency distribution for IDPs and host communities caused by civil strife (to be implemented mainly in Northern and Southern Iraq ).
(v) Community Stabilization for IDPs and Host Communities in Iraq (IOM: $4 million) Monitoring and assistance for IDPs and host communities caused by civil strife (to be implemented mainly in Central Iraq).
(vi) Emergency Assistance to Iraqi Refugees in Syria and Jordan (UNHCR: $4.5 million) Humanitarian assistance for Iraqi refugees driven to Syria and Jordan by the intensification of religious and ethnic conflicts.
(vii) Food Assistance to Vulnerable Groups in Iraq (WFP: $3 million) Provision of food for children, families and pregnant women whose nutrition is worsening.
(b) Security: $23 million ((i) capacity building for police, (ii) border control, and (iii) socio-economic reintegration of veterans and militias)
(i) Capacity Building for Law Enforcement in Basrah (UNDP: $6 million) Capacity building for police forces to improve security in Basrah, an important hub for petroleum and distribution of goods in Iraq .
(ii) Capacity Building for Integrated Border Management at the Southern Borders of Iraq (IOM: $7 million) Capacity building for Iraqi agencies engaged in border control of Southern Iraq to prevent illegal movement of persons and goods.
(iii) Program for Human Security and Stabilization in Iraq (IOM: $10 million) Vocational training and others for the socio-economic reintegration of veterans and militias who are hampering the improvement of security in Iraq.
(c) Capacity Building : $7.9 million ((i) in the health sector and (ii) capacity building in other civilian sectors)
(i) Improving Access to Quality Health Care in Al-Muthanna Governorate through Capacity Building (WHO: $3.9 million) Improvement of health care services through capacity building for Governorate medical personnel in Al-Muthanna.
(ii) Al-Muthanna Governorate Capacity Building and Institution Reinforcement Programme (UNDP: $4 million) Improvement of civil services (electricity, water, etc.) through capacity building for Governorate personnel in Al-Muthanna.
[Related links] * On Bomb Blast in Baghdad , Iraq (Statement by Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Press Secretary) ( 02/07/06 ) http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/2/0206-2.html
* On the Announcement by the U.S. Government on the U.S. New Policy in Iraq (Statement by Japanese Foreign Minister Aso) (01/11/07) http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/pressreleases/2007/0111.htm
* Provision of Yen Loan to Iraq ( 01/11/07 ) http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/pressreleases/2007/0111_1.htm
* The Issue of Iraq (Ministry of Foreign Affairs website) http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iraq/issue2003/index.html
* Japan-Iraq relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs website) |