Japan’s government announced new assistance of $39m to the Palestinian people through international organizations and $760,000 through Japanese NGOs.
The aid package includes: assistance for Palestine refugees through UNRWA; access to markets and trade opportunities; industrial efforts such as fishery and agriculture for the most vulnerable communities; climate action through UNDP; assistance for health systems; and humanitarian assistance including food in the Gaza Strip, through WFP and Japan Platform.
Japan has been providing assistance to Palestinian Authority ministries since 1993 with bi-lateral assistance both financially and technically, in their preparation for statehood in line with the Palestinian National Development Plan.
Japan also provides assistance through UN agencies as well as local NGOs and councils. With the new assistance, Japan’s total assistance to the Palestinian people exceeds about $2.3 billion.UNMAS has assessed 130 locations as hazardous in Gaza, since the 2014 war with Israel. According to the organization, many items of unexploded ordnance including aerial bombs and artillery shells, remain buried underground or hidden among debris of destroyed structures.In July 2016, UNMAS reported it cleared 39 sites while a further 87 sites remain to be cleared.
