Japan contributes $500,000 to UNICEF’s emergency response for children at al-Hol Camp

DAMASCUS, 19 March 2019 – The Government of Japan has contributed ¥56 million (approximately US$500,000) to UNICEF’s emergency response for the most vulnerable children and families arriving at Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria. The contribution will ensure that more than 37,000 people, mainly displaced children and women, can benefit from improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Since December 2018, intense hostilities in Deir-ez-Zor in eastern Syria created massive waves of displacement. Tens of thousands of people fled in harsh weather conditions to seek shelter at Al-Hol camp almost 300km further north, arriving in extremely poor health after a long and difficult journey.

“As the conflict enters its ninth year, nothing illustrates the dire plight of children in Syria more than the situation of children and women fleeing to Al-Hol camp in the past few months,” said UNICEF Syria Representative, Mr. Fran Equiza. “More than 66,000 people – the vast majority of them women and children – have arrived in desperate need of lifesaving assistance. Water and sanitation are among the most pressing needs at the camp. We thank the people and government of Japan for their timely contribution to help us urgently respond to these needs.”

“Japan stays engaged in humanitarian assistance to support children, youth and women regardless of where they are in Syria to meet their urgent needs,” said Mr. Futoshi Matsumoto, Special Coordinator for Syria, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Japan in Syria. “We strongly hope our contribution would alleviate the dire situation for the most vulnerable, particularly displaced children and women in Al-Hol camp.”

Through Japan’s contribution, UNICEF will be able provide access to safe water through water trucking in addition to the construction and maintenance of latrines and water points benefiting a total of 37,500 of the most vulnerable newly displaced women, children and men.

With this new contribution, approximately one third of Japan’s assistance for the Syria crisis response has been directed to children and families inside Syria. A total of US$187 million was also pledged at the Brussels Ⅲ conference for 2019. Since 2012, Japan’s total support to children and families in Syria and neighbouring countries has reached over US$2.7 billion.
 

本プレスリリースの日本語版はこちらをご覧ください。