Japan's Assistance Package for Iraq
May 21, 2003
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Now that major combat in Iraq have ended, reconstruction assistance for Iraq is expected to come into next stage. The Government of Japan (GOJ) has taken necessary steps, such as the reopening of the Embassy of Japan in Iraq on May 8th, and the dispatch of the GOJ mission led by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi to Baghdad from May 10th to16th.
The GOJ will continue its efforts to ensure a seamless transition from humanitarian assistance to reconstruction with utilizing Japan's own experience and to actively support the political process that will enable the people of Iraq to determine their own future as soon as possible, based on the ideas stated in "Japan's Assistance Plan for Iraq's Reconstruction" announced on April 21st.
The GOJ will pursue the following measures:
1. Consolidating a broad based solidarity among International Community for Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq
Broad-based solidarity among the international community, including Iraq's neighboring countries is indispensable for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq. Japan's assistance could be implemented most effectively when delivered under such solidarity.
The GOJ hopes to see the early adoption of a new UN Security Council resolution that will provide an international framework for assisting Iraq at the earliest possible date, toward which the GOJ wishes to play an important role.
In order to establish such a framework, the GOJ believes that an international conference for assisting Iraq should be organized with broad participation of countries and international organizations. To this end, the GOJ urges relevant international organizations such as the UN and others, to take an active role in organizing such a conference.
2. Concrete Assistance Measures by Japan in the Immediate Future
The GOJ mission led by Senior Vice-Minister Motegi reported that material damage caused by the recent military operation in Iraq was limited. Rather, urgent assistance is necessary to alleviate humanitarian suffering and the loss of lifelines, resulting from the lack of government functions and civil services. Furthermore, Motegi reported, there is innumerable needs to modernize Iraq's economic and social systems as well as its infrastructure that had deteriorated during the so-called "lost two decades" of Saddam Hussein's oppressive regime, repeated wars, and economic sanctions.
Having examined the abovementioned report, the GOJ has decided to implement the following concrete measures for assistance in the immediate future, in addition to the approximately 32 million dollars worth of humanitarian assistance it has thus far provided. In implementing these measures, the GOJ will prioritize areas related to revitalization of the livelihood of the Iraqi society, including areas such as health, education and power generation. It will also pay full regard to rehabilitating past projects carried out by Japan, as well as to coordination with Arab countries.
The GOJ intends to proceed with full-fledged reconstruction assistance to Iraq in the future, when the security situation improves, a transitional government with the capacity of receiving aid is established, and Iraq's debt issue is resolved.
(1) Cooperation for Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq through International Organizations and NGOs
(A) Assistance through International Organizations
- Iraq Reconstruction and Employment Program: approximately 6 million dollars
Economic activities inside Iraq are stagnant. Creation of jobs in the immediate future is a serious issue. With UNDP as the implementing partner, this project will employ Iraqis in Baghdad to perform functions such as debris removal, garbage collection and rehabilitation of buildings.- Expected Outcome: Creation of approximately 35 thousand jobs overall (estimated under the assumption that each individual would be employed for one month), as well as improvement of the sanitary situation in Baghdad.
- Expected Outcome: Creation of approximately 35 thousand jobs overall (estimated under the assumption that each individual would be employed for one month), as well as improvement of the sanitary situation in Baghdad.
- Project for Reactivation of Primary Education in Iraq: approximately 10 million dollars
Major combat operations have ended, but there are difficulties with re-opening schools. Against such a background, with UNICEF as the implementing partner, and in possible cooperation with Japanese NGOs, this project will rehabilitate schools and provide school supplies in Baghdad, Mosul, Najaf and the surrounding areas.- Expected Outcome: Approximately one million children in 3 cities and the surrounding areas will benefit from this project.
In addition to the above, the GOJ will examine providing concrete assistance, chiefly with regard to the following projects. These are expected to reach a total of approximately 30 million dollars (46 million dollars in total when combined with the above mentioned measures).
- Rehabilitation of the National Power Distribution Station
With UNDP as the implementing partner, provide support for projects to rehabilitate the power transmission network and to manage existing power distribution systems, which are of the highest priority in the power sector.- Expected Outcome: Rehabilitation of the Central Power Distribution Station which conducts the nation-wide distribution of approximately 9 thousand mega-watts of electricity generated by 24 power plants.
- Expected Outcome: Rehabilitation of the Central Power Distribution Station which conducts the nation-wide distribution of approximately 9 thousand mega-watts of electricity generated by 24 power plants.
- Emergency Assistance for Hospital Rehabilitation and Equipment
With UNDP and WHO as implementing partners, this project will rehabilitate general hospitals, for which the GOJ had offered loan aid in the past.- Expected Outcome: There are 13 hospitals nation-wide for which the GOJ had offered loan aid in the past. By rehabilitating the major general hospitals including the Kadhimiyah Hospital in Baghdad, the health and medical systems are expected to be strengthened nation-wide.
- Expected Outcome: There are 13 hospitals nation-wide for which the GOJ had offered loan aid in the past. By rehabilitating the major general hospitals including the Kadhimiyah Hospital in Baghdad, the health and medical systems are expected to be strengthened nation-wide.
- Emergency Water and Sanitation Rehabilitation Programme
With UNICEF and UNDP as implementing partners, provide support for projects in the areas of water supply, drainage and sanitation.- Expected Outcome: Access to water and sanitary situation of Iraqis would be dramatically improved.
- Expected Outcome: Access to water and sanitary situation of Iraqis would be dramatically improved.
- Reconstruction of Public Facilities and Others in Iraq
With UN-HABITAT as the implementing partner, this project will select and rehabilitate public facilities and others as "reconstruction models." Through such activities, this project seeks to transfer technology to the Iraqi people.- Expected Outcome: Selection of badly damaged public facilities, transfer of technology to the Iraqi people through rehabilitating the selected facilities.
- Expected Outcome: Selection of badly damaged public facilities, transfer of technology to the Iraqi people through rehabilitating the selected facilities.
(B) Assistance through NGOs: approximately 2.7 million dollars in total
- Medical projects and distribution of emergency supplies in Iraq carried out by Japan Platform (JPF): approximately 2.5 million dollars (300 million yen)
- Project by the Hashemite Charity Organization of Jordan to distribute medical supplies including antibiotics in Iraq: approximately 150 thousand dollars (18 million yen)
- Project by CARE International (international NGO) to distribute medical equipment such as Infant Intravenous Kits: approximately 82 thousand dollars (10 million yen)
(C) Setting up a Coordination Mechanism between the GOJ and the Private Sector, Dispatch of Missions and Specialists
- Along with the abovementioned projects, a coordination mechanism between the GOJ and the private sector will be set up with a view to preparing for the initiation of full-fledged reconstruction assistance. This mechanism will make it possible for the Government and the private sector to jointly tackle the challenge of assisting Iraq.
- While taking into consideration the security situation on the ground, the GOJ will start making arrangements to dispatch the following missions and specialists at an early stage.
- Urgent Rehabilitation Support Program (JICA)
- Government - Private Sector Joint Mission (GOJ and the private sector)
- Participation of specialists in the needs assessment mission of international organizations such as UNDP and WHO
- Participation of specialists in the World Bank / IMF needs assessment mission.
(2) Providing Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq in Cooperation with Arab Countries and Neighboring Countries
The GOJ will promote cooperation with Arab countries, for example by promoting medical assistance through the Hashemite Charity Organization of Jordan, as laid out above, in order to stabilize the Middle-East region as a whole, and to consolidate Japan-Arab relations.
(3) Assistance for Neighboring Countries
In addition to the 122.25 million dollars worth of assistance thus far provided to Jordan and Palestine, concrete assistance is scheduled to be announced on the occasion of Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Egypt (loan aid and grant aid).
(4) Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Disbursed 2 million dollars to UNESCO for assisting Iraq in the areas of culture and education. Concrete measures for assistance are being considered taking into account of the result of the UNESCO mission (May 15-19).
[END]
Back to Index