Japanese govt grants $7 million aid for Afghan refugees, host communities in Pakistan

WFP, UNHCR programmes to deliver legal assistance, food supplies, education to refugees


News Desk March 09, 2017
PHOTO: AFP

A grant of $7 million (Rs734 million) has been released by the Japanese government to UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Food Programme (WFP) to support Afghan Refugees and host communities in Pakistan, according to a press release issued on Thursday.

The decision was announced by the Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Abdul Qadir Baloch and Japanese Ambassador Takashi Kurai.

The notable attendees included acting United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCR Assistant Representative Tracey Maulfair, WFP Country Director Finbarr Curran.

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Tokyo is to allocate $3 million to the UNHCR to implement its priority interventions in the provision of legal assistance to refugees in the country.

Furthermore, this amount will be used for its programmes in the areas of education, healthcare and vocational training.

One of the key deliverables of these programmes is to provide legal assistance to an estimated 22,500 persons from the refugee population.

Moreover, to ensure access to healthcare and education to 50,000 persons from the refugee population and communities hosting them.

Similarly, to conduct vocational training courses for 210 youths throughout the country.

The remaining $4 million will be used to support 82,389 beneficiaries including 42,874 children between the ages of six to 69 months as well as 39,515 pregnant and lactating women over a six-month period.

The endowment will enable WFP to procure a total of 1,097 metric tonnes of locally produced quality ready-to-use supplementary foods.

The humanitarian organisation will distribute the food supplies in four districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which include Peshawar, Nowshera, Hangu and Kohat.

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These districts host the highest number of Afghan refugees and host communities.

“The interventions are in line with the government of Pakistan’s priorities to ensure adequate nutritious food provision to Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan,'' Baloch said while briefing the media.

The minister added that the government is committed to maintaining food security as well as protecting the Afghan population living in the country.

Baloch further added that Japan has been an active partner of the government in supporting the refugees which contribute to the peace and stability in the region.

''The ministry of SAFRON will work in close liaison with UNHCR and WFP to provide continuous support to Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan,'' Baloch vowed.

“The Government of Japan attaches great importance to supporting Afghan refugees and their host communities which have provided shelter to them for more than three decades,'' said Kurai.

He added that he was certain that the endowment would alleviate the burden the Pakistani government.

Kurai said Japan has been assisting Afghan refugees and their host communities in Pakistan for the last 10 years with aid of more than $200 million.

''I hope this grant will have a positive impact on young generations that are the future of the community,” he added.

COMMENTS (1)

Ruby | 7 years ago | Reply Again only goes to show how Pakistan benefitted from refugees.
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