Assistance in Kind for the Afflicted People in Sri Lanka

May 15, 2009
Japanese

In response to a request from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Government of Japan, concerned about the serious humanitarian situation facing the internally displaced persons in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, made a cabinet decision on May 15 to provide 560 tents, 30,000 jerry cans, 4,000 plastic sheets, 10,000 sleeping mats, and 1,000 mosquito nets (purchase price: approximately 47 million yen) as assistance in kind in accordance with the International Peace Cooperation Law. These goods will be used for the relief activities conducted by IOM in Sri Lanka.
Japan has already pledged emergency grant aid up to 4 million dollars for Sri Lanka. In addition to this emergency grant aid, Japan decided to provide goods Japan had stockpiled, with a view to responding swiftly to the needs of the local people.
As a member of the Tokyo Co-Chairs, Japan has been actively working to bring progress towards a permanent solution of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, including dispatching Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to Sri Lanka from April 30 to May 2. Japan intends to continue supporting initiatives to ensure the safety of and improvement of the humanitarian situation for internally displaced persons, as well as efforts for a political solution to ethnic issues in Sri Lanka.

(END)