Provision of Supplies for Iraqi Refugees and Transport by Government Aircraft

March 28, 2003

The Government of Japan decided on March 28 (Fri) to extend in-kind cooperation under the International Peace Co-operation Law to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of 160 tents to accommodate 1,600 people for its operation in the neighboring countries such as Jordan to assist Iraqi refugees. Responding also to the request from the UNHCR, the Government of Japan decided to transport the tents by the government aircraft of Japan to Jordan (Queen Alia International Airport in Amman).
Some Iraqi and other people have actually begun to flee from the conflict. It is feared that a large number of people will start moving, as in the initial prediction of the UNHCR which estimates the number of refugees to neighboring countries at 600,000. Against this background, the UNHCR has started international humanitarian relief activities in Jordan and other neighboring countries.
In view of such a situation, the UNHCR requested the Government of Japan to urgently provide necessary tents for its support activities. Japan's prompt cooperation with UNHCR's refugee assistance would make appropriate contribution to the international community, and hence the Government of Japan decided at the Cabinet meeting on March 28 on the provision and transport of the tents under the International Peace Cooperation Law.
This assistance makes a clear case of the emergency humanitarian assistance referred to in the Statement of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on March 20.

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