August 16, 2006	Wednesday	Rajab 20, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: The government of Japan has contributed $2.5 million to the UN refugee agency for the assistance of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. “We are very grateful to the government and people of Japan for their continued support for Afghans in Pakistan,” said UNHCR deputy representative in Pakistan Michael Zwack.

According to a statement issued here on Tuesday, the $2.5 million would go towards UNHCR’s projects in water, health care, education and community development for Afghans living in camps.

“Afghans may be one of the largest and most protracted refugee situations in the world, but Japan has not forgotten them,” said Japanese ambassador Seiji Kojima.

“We are committed to helping them while the search continues for more durable solutions to their plight.”

There are currently about 2.5 million Afghans living in Pakistan including more than one million housed in 74 camps. So far this year, over 117,000 Afghans have repatriated with UNHCR assistance, bringing to 2.85 million the total number of Afghans who had returned home with UNHCR since 2002.

In November, the UN refugee agency would support the government of Pakistan to register Afghans counted in the census of February-March 2005.

FLOOD RELIEF GOODS: Minister of the Embassy of Japan Hiroyuki Kishino here on Tuesday handed over flood relief goods worth Rs5 million to the government of Pakistan.

The emergency relief assistance dispatched by the Japanese government included 1,600 blankets, eight plastic sheets, 10 water filters and as many generators, and extension cable reels. The consignment arrived at the Islamabad airport on Monday.

Mr Kishino handed over the relief goods to the joint secretary/director-general, Emergency Relief cell, Cabinet Division, Khalid Khan, to be distributed in the flood-affected areas.

The Japanese government has provided the assistance to help overcome serious damages caused by the recent torrential rains and flash floods, killing and injuring a large number of people and destroying houses in the NWFP and other regions of the country.

At the handing over ceremony, Mr Kishino said his government was happy to be able to join the Pakistan government and people in their efforts to relieve those who suffered from the recent floods.

He said Japan had extended the aid from a humanitarian point of view, considering the friendly relationship between the two countries and taking into account the scale of disaster.

“Japan wishes these relief goods to be delivered as quickly as possible to people who urgently need help,” he said and hoped that rehabilitation in the damaged areas would proceed in a timely manner.