Assistance in Kind for Afflicted People in Iraq

December 28, 2007

In response to a request from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Government of Japan, concerned about the severe living conditions of the afflicted people in the northern part of Iraq in the midwinter, made a cabinet decision on December 28 (Fri) to provide assistance in kind (1,000 tents) based on the International Peace Cooperation Law. This assistance in kind will be used in the humanitarian relief activities that UNHCR is conducting in Iraq.
The Government of Japan has been consistently providing contributions to Iraq’s reconstruction by steadily carrying out the pledge made at the International Donors’ Conference on the Reconstruction of Iraq held in Madrid, to provide assistance of five billion US dollars to Iraq, providing debt relief amounting to about six billion US dollars, providing personnel contributions through the Self-Defense Forces, promoting national reconciliation by holding a National Reconciliation Seminar, and carrying out human resource development measures. The Government of Japan will continue its proactive support for the reconstruction of Iraq in cooperation with the international community.
Following the cabinet meeting, a ceremony to hand over the materials to the UNHCR will be held at the Japanese Consulate General in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates at 10 a.m. (local time. Japan time: 3 p.m.) on the same day. The ceremony will be attended by UNHCR officials, officials of the Government of Japan including those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet Office, as well as officials of the Government of Iraq.

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