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UNHCR Appreciates Japan’s Financial Contribution for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons under its 2011 Supplementary Budget

Countries
Afghanistan
+ 18 more
Sources
UNHCR
Publication date

UNHCR is very grateful for the USD 113.18 million received from the Government of Japan during the first quarter of the 2012. 19 operations worldwide will benefit with some USD 83.18 million allocated to Africa and the Middle East while USD 30 million will help internally displaced persons and returnees inside Afghanistan as well as countries hosting Afghan refugees in the region. The Japanese funding will contribute toward UNHCR’s 2012 global requirement of USD 3.59 billion.

Johan Cels, UNHCR’s Representative in Japan, expressed his deep gratitude saying “In 2011, when Japan suffered immensely from the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent Tsunami, we saw the announcement of Japan’s first Humanitarian Aid Policy and the adoption by both houses of Parliament of a Diet Resolution, reaffirming Japan’s commitment to continue assisting and supporting refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. These and the generous contribution received underscores Japan’s unwavering support to the most vulnerable people and humanitarian crises despite the difficult and challenging times the nation is facing. This is true leadership.”

Afghan refugees remain the largest refugee population in the world. Some 5.7 million Afghans returned of which UNHCR assisted over 4.6 million in the past decade. Japan’s key contribution of USD 30 million for the Afghan situation will greatly facilitate the voluntary return and reintegration of the Afghan refugees into their communities as well as strengthen the regional approach to assist Afghan refugees generously hosted by Pakistan and Iran.

Japan’s assistance of USD 83.18 million to Africa and the Middle East will be provided to 16 operations including Yemen and Egypt. Among others, some USD 28.58 million will provide protection for and meet the immediate needs of Somali refugees in Kenya, Ethiopia Djibouti, and the displaced population within Somalia. Some USD 20.5 million will be for Sudan and South Sudan for activities including protection and assistance, reintegration, and prevention of Statelessness. Following last year’s crisis, a USD 9.6 million contribution has been earmarked for Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa. Japan’s funding will also assist UNHCR’s efforts in “forgotten crises’ in the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

In advancing Human Security, through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Consolidation of Peace and Good Governance, UNHCR continues to actively support the preparations leading to TICAD V (Tokyo International Conference on African Development V) in 2013.

Japan contributed USD 226,106,644 in 2011 and is the second largest donor to UNHCR, after the United States of America, funding 10.6% of the total contributions to UNHCR in 2011.