Japan has contributed $2.7 million to assist Afghan refugees in Pakistan and continue a tradition of humanitarian generosity towards the world's largest refugee-hosting country. The $2.7 million donation will go to UN High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) operations for registered Afghans throughout Pakistan.
"Japan is committed to helping Afghan refugees and their hosts to find solutions after nearly 30 years in exile," said Seiji Kojima, Ambassador of Japan here on Tuesday.
Since 2001, Japan has donated over $13 million to UNHCR's Pakistan program. Besides monetary contributions, Japan has also assisted Afghan refugees in different ways, said a press release of the UNHCR.
From 1995 to 2004, the Japanese Girl Scouts Association visited Pakistan almost annually to distribute "peace packs" to refugee children. Consisting of stationery supplies, toys, T-shirts and toiletries, these packs brought smiles to thousands of Afghan children in Pakistan.
"Japan has come through for refugees yet again," said Guenet Guebre-Christos, UNHCR's Representative in Islamabad. "Its continuing support has allowed us to serve Afghans in this protracted situation." The UN refugee agency has been assisting Afghan refugees in Pakistan since they fled the Soviet invasion in 1979.
Currently, UNHCR provides basic healthcare, primary education and water and sanitation assistance for some 800,000 Afghans in 84 refugee villages, and free legal aid for urban refugees. In total, at present, there are more than 1.8 million registered Afghans living in Pakistan, mostly in urban and semi-rural areas outside refugee villages. UNHCR Pakistan needs over $18.3 million to carry out its activities this year.-PR
Comments
Comments are closed.