Outline of Results of the Preparatory Mission for Supporting Afghanistan

March 18, 2002

Activities of the Preparatory Mission for Supporting Afghanistan
(1) The Preparatory Mission for Supporting Afghanistan stayed in Kabul from March 3 (Sun) to 13 (Wed), held meetings with ministers of the interim authority and others concerned, and inspected various facilities, with a view to grasping concrete needs for Japan's future assistance.
(2) Those concerned on the Afghan side expressed their gratitude for Japan's positive attitude, including the holding of the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, and great expectations for the early implementation of assistance that could be seen. Other assisting countries and organizations were mainly conducting research, studying the future implementation of assistance.
(3) The relevant authorities stated their understanding on how Japan would set about cooperation in the very near future.

Content of Assistance to be Studied

As concrete assistance in Japan's priority fields, Japan will study assistance centering on the following aspects, including items confirmed with the interim government through the present mission. Since these items are only assistance candidates at this time, they are subject to change. Urgent rehabilitation and emergency assistance are intended for Kabul.

(Note)	(*1): Urgent rehabilitation and emergency assistance
	(*2): short- and mid-term assistance

(1) Assistance for resettlement of refugees
Based on the investigation concerning community development now being carried out by the World Bank and other organizations, Japan will study assistance mainly through international organizations.

(2) Mine-clearance
In addition to cooperation already implemented (about 4,000 million yen since 1988), Japan will study the matters further.

(3) Media infrastructure

(Note)	(*1) lend-lease of broadcasting equipment
	(*2): provision of broadcasting equipment, construction of broadcasting facilities, dispatch of experts, training, etc.

(4) Education

(Note)	(*1) repair of elementary, junior high and high schools (approximately five)
	(*2): reconstruction of educational facilities, dispatch of experts, training of education-related personnel

(5) Health and medical care

(Note)	(*1) assistance to medical facilities (repair of clinics and a tuberculosis hospital, improvement of facilities), provision of medical equipment
	(*2): reconstruction of medical facilities, etc. dispatch of experts, training of medical personnel

(6) Gender

(Note)	(*1) repair of women's elementary, junior high and high schools (two or three of the five of (4) above.
	(*2): assistance for women's independence, training of women teachers, etc.

(7) Others: form basic plan for Kabul's public transportation and basic rehabilitation

Steps forward
(1) The Government of Japan will dispatch a mission in April to conduct urgent rehabilitation and to hold consultations for such technical cooperation as dispatch of experts and acceptance of trainees, with a view to formulating a more concrete reconstruction assistance plan.
(2) The Government of Japan is trying to support Afghanistan effectively in close contact and cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies of Japan and also with NGOs.
Other Issues:
(1) Although the city of Kabul gives the impression that the people's lives are active and that reconstruction is under way, the political and security situation still needs to be watched carefully. Another important matter is to secure means of living in the city for the assistance personnel.
(2) Ministers of the Interim Authority in Afghanistan show eagerness to rehabilitate their country. However, the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to receive and utilize assistance effectively (including the functioning of the administrative system) remains unclear.
(3) It is important for Japan to cooperate with the assistance of other donor countries and international organizations proactively in their assistance.

(END)

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