Contribution in Kind to the UNHCR for the Relief of Sudan Conflict-Afflicted People

Embassy of Japan

November 5, 2007

On November 5, the Japanese Cabinet Office issued the following press release regarding the contribution in kind to the UNHCR for the relief of the conflict-afflicted people in Sudan.

• In Darfur in western Sudan, the conflict intensified since 2003 between the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and anti-government parties. This conflict has killed about 200,000 residents and left a large number of the conflict-afflicted people (including some 200,000 Sudanese refugees fleeing to Chad and an estimated 2-2.5 million internally displaced persons). There has been strong accusation from the international society against the attacks on the residents of Darfur, burglary, and sexual violence in Darfur.

• Despite the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006 between the Government of Sudan and some of the anti-government parties, followed by the continuous international effort to take in other rebel parties who did not sign the deal, the afflicted people still face difficulties of an access to shelter, food and water as the security and humanitarian situations in Darfur remain volatile.

• It is in this context that the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, launched in this January a Supplementary Appeal for Darfur of USD19, 739,131 in total, equivalent to over 2.2 billion Japanese yen.

• UNHCR, as a humanitarian relief agency assisting the afflicted Sudanese, requested to the Government of Japan for humanitarian relief items to support its activities.

In response to the request from UNHCR, the Government of Japan will announce a cabinet meeting decision on Tuesday, November 6 to provide relief items (10,000 blankets, 10,000 sleeping mats, 10,000 jerry cans, and 4,000 plastic sheets) to UNHCR for the afflicted people as part of the contribution in kind under the Law Concerning Cooperation for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Other Operations (the International Peace Cooperation Law).

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The above items will be delivered from Japan overseas stockpile base where the warehouse was newly established in 2006 with the objective of reinforcing effectiveness of the humanitarian relief supply system.

Following the cabinet meeting, there will be a ceremony to hand over the materials to UNHCR in a stockpile base where the humanitarian relief items are being kept in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, at 11:00am on Tuesday local time. This ceremony will be attended by officials from UNHCR and the Japanese Government.

If you need photos of the ceremony and for more information, please contact:

Shinichiro Kobayashi, Director

Satoshi Kinoshita, Deputy Director

Masako Saito, Program Advisor

Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters

Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

Ph: +81-3-3581-7343 (direct)

Contact email address: satoshi.kinoshita@cao.go.jp

masako.saito@cao.go.jp

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[Related links]

Japan-Sudan Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/africa/sudan/index.html

Japan’s Official Development Assistance for Consolidation of Peace in Sudan ( May 23, 2006 )

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/region/africa/sudan.pdf