Emergency Grant Aid

The Government of Japan provides Emergency Grant Aid for the governments of affected countries or international and other organizations (including Red Cross Societies), with a view to providing urgent support for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDP’s), or people affected by overseas natural disasters and/or conflicts.

The Grant is provided with a view to achieving one of the following three objectives:

1. (1) Emergency assistance for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), or people affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
2. (2) Support for democratization through providing financial assistance to the governments or international and other organizations which assist the administrative management and monitoring of election processes in developing countries.
3. (3) Reconstruction and development assistance through providing financial assistance for international and other organizations, with a view to supporting post-conflict countries or regions in a smooth transition to the reconstruction phase.

A distinctive feature of the Grant is that it should respond to urgent needs. Therefore, the Grant is implemented in a speedy process different from those of other Grant schemes. Specifically, in response to requests from affected governments or international and other organizations, and based on the information gathered at diplomatic missions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides the amount and details of Emergency Grant Aid. Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports the decision to the Cabinet Meeting. The diplomatic mission of the Government of Japan exchanges notes verbale with the affected countries or international and other organizations, and the Government of Japan contributes the grant to relevant organizations.

Recent Projects:

Emergency Grant Aid for Syrian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Emergency Grant Aid to the Philippines for Typhoon Victims

Emergency Grant Aid for Sudanese Refugees in South Sudan

Emergency Grant Aid for an earthquake disaster in Chile

On February 27, 2010, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Concepción, central Chile. The earthquake left approximately 500 people dead, affected two million people, and devastated local infrastructure.

On March 1, in response to this devastating disaster, Japan decided to provide emergency relief goods totaling 30 million yen, including power generators, tents, and water purifiers. On March 2, Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of about 310 million yen. With this assistance, medical equipment (including sterilization equipment) was delivered to the Talca Hospital in the affected area.

On May 28, Japan decided to extend additional emergency grant aid, totalling 200 million yen, for a temporary hospital and medical equipment as a stopgap measure until the completion of the reconstruction of damaged healthcare facilities. The decision came after then Chilean President Michelle Bachelet asked then Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for assistance in the wake of the earthquake, and succeeding President Sebastián Piñera had telephone talks with Mr. Hatoyama. This temporary hospital is now built in Hualañé, VII Region.

A ceremony for the delivery of medical equipment at the Talca Hospital in November 2010