Emergency Aid to Refugees of the former Yugoslavia

March 23, 1999

1. On March 23 (Tue.), the Government of Japan decided to contribute emergency grant aid totaling about 14,400,000 dollars to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and three other international organizations, with a view to assisting the refugees and other war affected people of the former Yugoslavia.
   
   The breakdown of the contribution is as follows:
   

   (1) UNHCR	9,860,000 dollars
   (2) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)	1,200,000 dollars
   (3) International Organization for Migration (IOM)	1,000,000 dollars
   (4) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)	2,340,000 dollars

   
   The contribution will be appropriated for the provision of food and daily necessities; the setting-up and emergency repairs of shelters; health, medical and sanitation assistance; and repatriation of the refugees and displaced persons of the former Yugoslavia.
   
   
2. In the post-conflict former Yugoslavia, ethnic confrontations are still going on, delaying the repatriation of the refugees and internally displaced persons. At present, more than 2.5 million of them are forced to lead a difficult life. In Kosovo also, a conflict that erupted in 1998 has generated a large number of refugees and displaced persons, who need immediate assistance.
   
   
3. Japan has been actively taking part in the efforts of the international community for the peace process of the former Yugoslavia, extending humanitarian and refugee-related assistance, and assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction. In line with this policy, Japan has decided to provide these funds in response to an appeal of the U.N. and other organizations, taking account of the importance and urgency of the matter.
   
   

Related Information (Japan-Serbia and Montenegro Relations)