Contribution in Kind for the Relief of Iraqi Conflict-Afflicted People

Embassy of Japan

December 26, 2007

On December 27, the Japanese Cabinet Office will issue the following press release regarding the contribution in kind to the UNHCR for the relief of Iraqi conflict-afflicted people. This press release is strictly embargoed until the closure of the Japanese Cabinet Meeting at 10 pm EST on December 27.

1. Background

• 1) Despite the Iraqi government’s post-conflict reconstruction efforts with international support, over 2 millions still remain internally displaced and approximately 2 million Iraqi refugees have fled to the neighboring countries such as Syria and Jordan.

• 2) With the arrival of midwinter in the early 2008, some 90,000 displaced in the northern Iraq regions of Erbil and Dohuk are in danger of further worsening living conditions and getting themselves in non-negligible situation from a humanitarian perspective.

• 3) UNHCR, conducting international humanitarian relief operations inside Iraq, has distributed tents to internally displaced persons including those in the above two areas. However, the current stock does not meet the enormous needs and may become scarce in late January 2008.

• 4) Given the above, UNHCR requested the Government of Japan on 17 December, 2007 for the provision of 1,000 tents (for about 10,000 people) on an urgent basis. In response to this, the Government of Japan will make a decision to provide the relief items from a perspective that the reconstruction of Iraq as a peaceful and democratic country is vital for the people of Iraq and the peace and stability of the Middle East region.

2. Relief Items

Under Article 25(1) of the Law Concerning Cooperation for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Other Operations (the International Peace Cooperation Law), the Government of Japan will make a cabinet meeting decision on December 27 to provide 1,000 tents to UNHCR from the stockpile of the Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, Cabinet Office.

These will be delivered from the Japan overseas stockpile base in the United Arab Emirates which was established in 2006.

Following the cabinet meeting, there will be a ceremony to hand over the materials at the Consulate-General of Japan in the UAE at 10 am on Friday local time ( 1 am EST ). This ceremony will be attended by officials. The photos of the ceremony will be available in Tokyo on the same day.

For more information, including photos of the ceremony, please contact:

Shinichiro Kobayashi, Director

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

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[Related links]

Japan-Iraq Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iraq/index.html

The Issue of Iraq (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iraq/issue2003/index.html

Japan ’s Assistance to Iraq (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iraq/issue2003/assistance/assist0610.pdf