[Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Wednesday, Dec 17, 2014]
Grant Aid to the Republic of Niger Exchange of Letters on “The Project for Strengthening Community and Regional Capacities for Security Enhancement in Niger”
1. On December 16 (same day local time), an exchange of letters on providing grant aid of 202 million Japanese yen took place in the Republic of Niger’s capital of Niamey City between Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Niger (concurrently with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire) and Mr. Fodé Ndiaye, Resident Representative of UNDP Niger.
2. This aid will contribute to enhancing the security capabilities of regional governments by providing the headquarter centers of all the seven Niger's regions excluding the special district of Niamey with wireless communication devices connecting the regional governments with the prefectural bureaus under their jurisdictions, and wireless-equipped vehicles for patrolling outlying locations (desert areas).
3. In 2012, the Government of Niger formulated the “Sahel-Niger Strategy for Development and Security.” The pillars of the strategy include strengthening security measures, strengthening the governance of regional governments, improving service delivery, and job creation, and the Government of Niger is moving ahead with initiatives relating to “peace and stability” and “development” in the region. This aid will contribute to promoting this policy of Niger.
4. At the TICAD V in June 2013, the Government of Japan advocated “Peace and Stability” as one of the three pillars of Yokohama Action Plan. The Government of Japan particularly announced to implement support measures to the Sahel region in such areas as combating terrorism and enhancing security capabilities in the Sahel region in particular, and this assistance constitute a part of those measures.
[Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Tuesday, Dec 16, 2014]
Emergency Grant Aid for the Presidential By-Election in the Republic of Zambia
1. On December 16, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of approximately 640,000 U.S. dollars (approximately 76.4 million Japanese yen) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in order to support the smooth implementation of the presidential by-election to be held on January 20, 2015 in the Republic of Zambia.
2. With the passing of H.E. Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, former President of the Republic of Zambia on October 28 this year, the by-election is scheduled to take place. The Government of Zambia has requested emergency assistance from the international community for carrying out this election in a fair and democratic manner.
3. To support the by-election, the Government of Japan will finance the purchase of equipments relating to electorate education and voting. This assistance will contribute to “Consolidating Peace, Stability, Democracy and Good Governance”, one of the pillars of Japan’s diplomacy towards Africa, demonstrated at the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V).
4. The Government of Japan hopes that the by-election be conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner, thereby contributing to ensure the consolidation of democracy and good governance in Zambia and to the stability of the Southern African region as a whole.
[Japan International Cooperation Agency] [Tuesday, Dec 16, 2014]
JICA to Send Emergency Supplies to Typhoon-Stricken Philippines
JICA will provide emergency supplies to the Philippines in response to damage caused by a typhoon, after receiving a request from the Government of the Philippines.
The intense Typhoon Hagupit, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ruby, which hit Samar Island Dec. 6-7, has caused significant damage in extensive areas of the country, centered in Samar.
According to the Government of the Philippines, the victims as of Dec. 11 include 19 people killed, 1.7 million evacuated and 2.4 million affected. Also, 47,781 buildings have been damaged.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide emergency supplies including 600 blankets, 260 tarpaulin sheets, 600 sleeping pads, 600 jerry cans and 10 water purifiers with a total value of approximately US$190,000.
The supplies will be delivered to Cebu Island using the earliest available flight.
[Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Monday, Dec 15, 2014]
Dispatch of an expert in response to an unstable water supply situation caused by a fire incident at the water producing plant in Male, the Maldives
1. The Government of Japan has dispatched an expert to the Maldives in response to an unstable water supply situation caused by a fire incident at the water desalination plant in the capital city of the Maldives, Male on December 4.
2. The expert is expected to advise the Ministerial-level Task Force which has been set up within the Government of the Maldives, to deal with this urgent situation and has already been active in the Maldives.