Press Releases
Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on Japan’s New Policy of Support within Syria
June 11, 2013
- Japan is gravely concerned about the protracted violent conflict in Syria. The future of Syria, which is significant for the realization of stability throughout the entire Middle East, should be decided by the Syrian people themselves. Japan strongly desires to see the earliest possible cessation of violence and realization of a stable situation in which all Syrians, without the exclusion of minority groups, possess basic human rights, and can enjoy freedom and prosperity. Japan therefore intends to continuously contribute toward improving the situation in Syria.
- Japan has thus far collaborated with international organizations and NGOs and offered humanitarian assistance totaling approximately USD 80 million to support refugees and evacuees in Syria. However, there are some regions within the country that cannot be reached by the support of the Syrian Government and international organizations. Support for people in these areas is an urgent issue.
- In order to offer support for these regions, Japan has decided to implement initiatives as early as this summer, by coordinating and cooperating with the assistance units of the opposition groups who actually has the control of these areas, as well as NGOs. Japan will offer support in such fields as healthcare with an appropriate implementing mechanism. In addition, with regard to other fields, adequate consideration shall be made when the needs of the local areas can be verified, and Japan shall respond to such humanitarian needs of the region to the greatest extent possible through such support.
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* The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of the original in Japanese.