Press Release on March 3, 2009
Ambassador Shioguchi Discussed Cooperation with UNRWA Comissioner-General
On 3rd March, Japanese Ambassador to Jordan, H.E Mr. Tetsuo Shioguchi held talks with UNRWA Commissioner-General Mrs. Karen Koning AbuZayd at his Excellency’s Residence. Also present were Mr. Shigeru Okamoto, Chief Representative of JICA in Jordan.
The two discussed Gaza, in which His Excellency highly praised the role of UNRWA and its staff who were continuously engaged in aid activities throughout the last crisis. From her side, Commissioner-General thanked His Excellency for Japan’s assistance to Gaza including Japan’s largest ever in-kind donation and a US$ 3 million contribution for food.
Japanese Ambassador and UNRWA’s Commissioner-General reviewed UNRWA’s financial crisis. His Excellency Mr. Shioguchi will endeavour to contribute more by assisting UNRWA in other project schemes.
Both agreed to continue cooperating closely towards the improvement of Palestine refugees living conditions as well as developing opportunities for the young generation. Japanese Ambassador congratulated UNRWA for the success of the scholarship program supported by the Government of Japan where nearly 1,000 Palestinian students have graduated since 1989. His Excellency also expressed his willingness to attend the alumni ceremony to be held on April 7th.
On her side, the Commissioner-General highlighted the sports and music activities that the JICA volunteers actively help UNRWA implement in several fields of operation. She added that the work of the JICA volunteers was extremely valuable and beneficial to young Palestine refugees especially in Syria.
Japan began assisting UNRWA in 1953. To date, the amount of Japanese aid to the Palestine refugee Agency totals US$ 549 million dollars. Japan has been one of the top donors to UNRWA. The latest assistance from Japan was directed to Gaza to help alleviate the crisis, including an in-kind donation of 8,000 plastic sheets, 29,000 blankets, and 20,000 sleeping mattresses, as well as a US$ 3 million contribution for emergency food aid. Japan is currently exploring other ways to assist UNRWA and the Palestine refugees.
