Grassroots Grant Aid to Afghanistan

May 2, 2002

1. The Government of Japan has decided to extend assistance of about 187,750 US dollars in total under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects program to Afghanistan via three projects of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) providing reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan. Grant Contracts were signed on May 2 (Thu) in Kabul between Mr. Kinichi Komano, Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan, and the representatives of NGOs, in the presence of Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Japanese Foreign Minister.
   
   
2. The NGO projects to be covered by the grant aid and the amount of the assistance for each project are as follows:

   (1) Well Drilling in Northern Afghanistan
   (operated by Afghanistan Construction and Logistic Unit (ACLU), 81,200 US dollars)
   Afghanistan is facing a serious shortage of drinking and irrigation water because of a three-year-long drought. Japan will extend the necessary funds for the NGO that is drilling wells in northern Afghanistan to purchase drilling machines.
   
   (2) Rehabilitation of Karte Seh Hospital, West Side of Kabul
   (operated by HOPE Worldwide, 24,648 US dollars)
   Medical facilities in Afghanistan lack not only basic medical equipment but also medicines. Japan will extend the funds for a hospital in Kabul to procure necessary medical facilities and equipment for emergency use.
   
   (3) Mechanical Mine Clearance in and around Kabul International Airport
   (operated by Afghan Technical Consultants (ATC), 81,900 US dollars)
   The mines in and around Kabul International Airport are a threat to the people living there. The Airport is the gateway for the support activities for Afghanistan, and the existence of these mines has become an obstacle to the reconstruction assistance activities. Japan will extend the necessary funds for the NGO of Afghanistan to operate mine clearance in and around the Airport.

3. In order to implement the reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan effectively, the Government of Japan intends to cooperate and coordinate with NGOs. The grant aid is aiming to supply the necessary funds, in response to applications from the NGOs providing reconstruction support for Afghanistan in the fields of health, medical treatment and mine clearance.
   
   
4. The grant aid will be provided as part of the reconstruction assistance of up to 500 million dollars that the Government of Japan announced at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan held in January this year that it would extend for the next two and a half years.

Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)