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Press ReleaseWith $7.8 Million Donation, Japan Provides Major Boost to UNICEF Relief Efforts for Afghan ChildrenNEW YORK, 16 November 2001 - The Government of Japan has donated $7.84 million to UNICEF's relief efforts for the children of Afghanistan, the agency announced today, the largest emergency contribution UNICEF has ever received from Japan and the largest it has received from any source for its $36 million appeal for Afghan relief.
The Japanese contribution, approved Friday 16 November, constitutes 22% of UNICEF's emergency appeal. As winter arrives, the contribution will provide urgently needed relief supplies to the most vulnerable children and women inside Afghanistan, as well as to Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries. Among other things, the gift will provide for the delivery of warm winter clothing for children and pregnant women, blankets, supplementary food for malnourished children, essential medicines, shelter materials, and safe water. To date UNICEF has nearly 50 relief convoys into Afghanistan. Some 5 million Afghans are relying on outside assistance to survive, and UNICEF estimates that as many as 100,000 children could perish this winter if relief convoys are halted for any reason. Afghanistan has suffered from more than 20 years of war and nearly four years of severe drought. "UNICEF is very grateful for this generous gift from the government and people of Japan, and I warmly thank them for this bold step," said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF. "The children of Afghanistan desperately need our support, and this contribution will go a long way toward helping them survive the winter. Every day is crucial now, every dollar is needed." Japan has made a major commitment to the overall United Nations relief effort, committing as much as $120 million to the UN flash appeal issued last month for some $600 million, mostly for the provision of food. UNICEF is taking the lead in the delivery of specialized food for malnourished children, as well as the provision of medicine and medical supplies. UNICEF relief convoys continue to enter Afghanistan every
day, a challenging logistical effort made possible by the generous and
continuing support of people and governments around the world. With
the large Japanese contribution, UNICEF's initial $36 million appeal
for stop-gap relief efforts is funded. As it continues to work on short-term
child survival, UNICEF will also begin to assess the contributions it
must make to the medium-term processes of recovery and stabilization. ### Alfred Ironside, UNICEF Media,
New York ### Speeches and Press releases on Afghanistan and region
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UNICEF
is very grateful for this generous gift from the government
and people of Japan, and I warmly thank them for this bold step.
