Dispatch of the Second Preparatory Mission for Supporting Afghanistan

April 10, 2002

1. The Government of Japan has dispatched the second preparatory mission for supporting Afghanistan from April 5 (Fri) to 19 (Fri).
   
   
2. The mission mainly consists of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and staffs of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
   
   
3. The mission is engaged in implementing urgent rehabilitation work for elementary, junior high and high schools (including girls' schools) and also medical facilities (including tuberculosis hospital and health care facilities for mothers and children). The mission is also working on formulating short-term and mid-to-long-term reconstruction plans. Moreover, experts recommended by the ministries and agencies concerned (e.g. the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) are participating in the mission to conduct technical study of short-to-mid-term cooperation in support of education, health and medical care as well as gender issues, to which Japan attaches importance in supporting Afghanistan.
       The mission is also gathering information on security, a prerequisite for reconstruction.
   
   
4. On the basis of the results of the first mission, which was dispatched at the beginning of March, the second mission has started emergency rehabilitation projects mainly in education, and health and medical care and is examining prompt and effective implementation of technical cooperation from a technical point of view.
   
   
5. Building on the results of this mission, the Government of Japan intends to carry out tangible support activities as soon as possible.

Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)