Tehran, Aug 24, IRNA – The government of Japan decided on August 24 to extend grant emergency assistance which is necessary for purchasing prefabricated houses to the government of Iran for the northwest Iran quake.

The upper limit of its assistance is up to 90 million Japanese yen (approximately US$1,110,000), according to the press release of Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan.

The press release, a copy of which was made available to IRNA on Friday, said the government of Japan which deeply appreciated the aid from Iran toward Great East Japan Earthquake has decided to extend this grant assistance, in response to the request of the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran, from a humanitarian point of view and in light of the friendly relations between the two countries. Together with the emergency relief goods (approximately 18 million Japanese yen) which Japan has already provided to Iran, Japanese government has decided the assistance of 108 million Japanese yen in total so far (approximately US $1,330,000) for this earthquake.

On 17th, the government of Japan decided in response to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) emergency relief goods which are mobile toilets (including showers), equivalent to approximately 18 million Japanese yen (approximately US$222,000) in total to Iran, which has sustained serious damage from earthquake in northwest Iran.

On 22th, JICA delivered 100 mobile toilets (including showers) to Iranian Red Crescent Society.

Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1025779

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) dispatched emergency relief supplies to the Islamic Republic of Iran following earthquakes that struck the north-western part of the country this month.

Emergency goods, portable toilet-shower boxes, valued at 18 million JPY were locally procured by JICA. A handover ceremony was held at 17:00 (local time) on 22 August.

The ceremony was attended by Mr Kinichi Komano, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Iran, and Mr Yasuto Takeuchi, Chief Representative of JICA Iran Office.

Attendees from Iran included Mr. Ghalamizadeh,Director, Third division of East Asia and Pacific, Mr Saeed Matany, Deputy Head of the Relief and Rescue Organization, and Mr Davood Pourkhanali, Director General of International Operation and Humanitarian Programs from the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

During the ceremony, Mr Komano expressed his condolences for the loss caused by the earthquake, and his gratitude for Iran’s support which Japan received at the time of the earthquake last year. Mr Takeuchi expressed his wish that the relief goods of 100 portable toilet-showers contribute to improving the lives of those affected.

In response, Mr. Ghalamizadeh stated that the emergency relief goods from Japan should greatly contribute to improvement of living conditions of the affected people. Mr Davood Pourkhanali expressed his deep appreciation to the government of Japan and JICA.

All goods will be distributed through the Red Crescent Society to the affected areas and JICA will conduct the necessary monitoring of the distribution and use of the emergency goods.

END

Issue Date: Tue, 04/09/2012 In this issue:

UN-SPIDER at a glance

• UN-SPIDER Conference on Risk Assessment in Beijing open for Applications

• UN-SPIDER conducts Capacity Building Programme in Sri Lanka

• Call for experts for Technical Advisory Mission in Mozambique

• Successful Technical Advisory Mission to Cape Verde

• UNOOSA signs new Funding Agreement with Austria for UN-SPIDER

• UN-SPIDER reports on Crowdsource Mapping in Imaging Notes magazine

• UNOOSA activates International Charter for Earthquake in Iran

News from our Regional Support Offices

• IGAC researches Application of Satellite Imagery for flooded Areas

• CATHALAC models Central American coastal Vulnerability to Storm Hazards

• CATHALAC develops Forest Cover Map of Belize

• CATHALAC launches regional geo-viewer: PortalGIS

• Pakistan’s Space Agency trains for Rescue Operations

• ADRC: Booklet on space-based Information for Tsunami Assessment

• 3rd Ukrainian Conference GEO-UA

• NASU-NSAU forecasts Winter Wheat Yield in Ukraine

News from our Community

• International Charter activated in Philippines, USA, Iran, Russia and four African countries

• GIO EMS: New European GMES mapping service publishes user guide

• New satellite sensor to observe wildfires

• Esri launches new GIS tool for search and rescue personnel

Upcoming events

• UN-SPIDER Technical Advisory Missions to Solomon Islands and Mozambique

• “Risk Assessment in the Context of Global Climate Change” – United Nations International

• Conference on Space-based Technologies for Disaster Management

• Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2013 announced

• 4th International Conference of Crisis Mappers(ICCM) - Fellowships available

• United Nations International Expert Meeting on Crowdsource Mapping

This document provides a weekly overview of developments in Afghanistan from 18 - 24 September 2012, with hyper-links to source material highlighted in blue and underlined in the text. For more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to events in Afghanistan, contact the members of the Afghanistan Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org/cmo/afg.

Highlighted Topics

• Afghan government procures uniforms for ANSF in China and Pakistan.

• Afghan mining laws re-drafted to meet social and environmental safeguards.

• Afghan government bans all Pakistani newspapers.

• Chinese and Afghan governments sign a range of bilateral agreements.

• The Taliban release a video showing the preparations for the attack on Camp Bastion.

• ISAF sets new limits on direct cooperation with Afghan forces.

• The ADB organised three TAPI road shows in London, News York and Singapore.

• The MoTCA is planning to build several small airports in remote districts.

UN report finds disasters taking heavy toll on economic development in Asia-Pacific

YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA, 23 October 2012 - A UN Report released today at the opening of the Fifth Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk reduction shows that Asia and the Pacific is paying a huge price for extreme weather events which are now impacting negatively on the continent's economic development.

Increasing disaster risks in Asia-Pacific are driven by the twin challenge of increasing exposure of its people and economic assets, and the inability of the most vulnerable groups to cope with disasters, according to the latest assessment of disasters in the region published by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

For many in Asia and the Pacific, 2011 will be remembered for major disasters with devastating impacts on economies, communities and above all the lives of people across the region. The Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and the ensuing nuclear disaster, as well as the Southeast Asian floods, were major contributors to the staggering $294 billion in regional economic losses -- representing 80 per cent of global losses due to disasters in 2011.

"Our shared challenge in Asia and the Pacific is to control both the growing rate of exposure and rising vulnerability. Exposure to hazards has multiplied as urban centres grow and people and economic activities expand into increasingly exposed and hazard-prone land. It is also a concern that smaller economies, those that have less diversified economic structures, and countries with high fiscal deficits, show greater strains of vulnerability even when faced with relatively small-scale disasters," said Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The ESCAP/UNISDR Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2012, 'Reducing Vulnerability and Exposure to Disasters' finds that from 1970 to 2010 the average number of people exposed to yearly flooding in Asia has more than doubled from 29.5 million to 63.8 million and the population resident in cyclone-prone areas has grown from 71.8 million to 120.7 million.

Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, said: "Exposure to disaster risk is growing faster than our ability to build resilience and Asia's rapid economic growth is partly responsible for it. This was very obvious during the floods which plagued much of the region last year. Of course, the challenge is not to stop development, but to arrest both the growing rate of exposure and rising vulnerability. Reducing risk successfully is about saving lives, jobs, homes and valuable infrastructure such as schools, health facilities and roads."

The report finds that it is small farmers, micro enterprises and poor households that bear the brunt of the costs of disasters in many developing countries. Additionally, it shows that the cumulative impact of small-scale disaster events can be just as detrimental, or more so, than a large event in some countries. Mortality and property losses are increasing in countries such as Lao PDR, Indonesia, Iran and Nepal due to small- and medium-scale disasters.

One of the most positive developments, however, is that, despite greater frequency of these events and increased damage to property and livelihoods, the death toll from such disasters as typhoons, floods and landslides in some subregions is decreasing. This is a significant accomplishment, and proves that better disaster risk management - investing in early warning systems, preparedness and social safety nets - saves lives. However, people need to demand greater accountability for reducing their exposure to hazards in the first place through better urban planning and other preventive measures which build disaster resilience. Economic development creates resilience when invested to reduce the vulnerability of people and communities, says the report.

As a good practice, the report highlights Joey Sarte Salceda, Governor of Albay province in the Philippines, who adopted a very pragmatic approach to reduce disaster risk exposure first and improving vulnerabilities next. Unfortunately, such proactive policies are still the exception, according to the report, and not the rule in the region. The report also indicates that some outstanding efforts have been made to reverse these trends. Bangladesh's investments of more than $10 billion in the past 35 years in flood and coastal management have resulted in lower disaster losses. Again, it is one of only a handful of countries in the region to have done so.

Countries are increasingly embracing the view that minimizing disaster risk is essential for achieving sustainable development and many have started to take action to build the resilience of people and communities, but more needs to be done to protect various population segments that are vulnerable to disasters, such as women and children, people with disabilities and the aged as very little concerted effort has been made to deal with theses populations that are highly vulnerable to disasters.

The report says that land use planning, supply chain management and targeted social safety nets for the most vulnerable have the potential to reduce disaster risks significantly. The report further shows how regional cooperation can be used for cost effective sharing of highly sophisticated and sometimes costly ICT and space technologies.

In closing, the report calls on governments to focus on development strategies that reduce exposure to hazards and to invest more in disaster risk reduction policies to achieve greater resilience against disasters.

Natural Disasters in Asia

Analyses of EM-DAT disaster statistics for the last decades provide us with insights on the trends and patterns of disaster occurrence and impact, both globally and in individual continents, regions and countries. From 2002 to 2011 worldwide, a total of 3,800 disasters killed over 1 million people, affected 2.5 billion others and caused US$ 1,453 billion of economic damages.

Asia, particularly the South, East and Southeast regions, experienced a large share of the global disaster occurrence over the last decade. In fact, seven out of the ten deadliest disasters worldwide of the last decade occurred in these regions (see table 1, page 2). This is partly explained by the large land area and high population density, as well as geophysical and meteorological factors such as seismicity and storm track activity, that render these areas vulnerable to disasters. Future challenges related to population pressures, poverty, environmental degradation and weak infrastructures, are likely to aggravate the impacts of future disasters and should imperatively be addressed by policy makers, scientists and members of civil society organizations.

Given the importance of good data for policy, a stronger approach to disaster data collection, particularly in Asia, is essential for the development of effective policies for disaster risk reduction.

Debarati Guha-Sapir, Director

KABUL, 28 February 2013 – The Government of Japan and the United Nations announced US$ 281 million of assistance to Afghanistan for 14 projects to be implemented by nine UN agencies at a signing ceremony held today in Kabul.

The ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr. Jamaher Anwari, the Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Yoshikazu Yamada, the Resident Representative of JICA, Mr. Mark Bowden, UNAMA Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General/Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Government counterparts and the representatives from the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes.

The assistance announced today aims to support the national development priorities identified by the Government of Afghanistan, and is a part of the commitment made by the Government of Japan last July at the Tokyo Conference.

“The assistance announced today is a part of our commitment we made at the Tokyo Conference. In exchange, I expect the Afghan Government to implement their commitment, namely, to show improvement in anti-corruption and women’s empowerment and to conduct free and fair Elections,” said Ambassador Takahashi at the ceremony. He also requested the UN agencies and the Afghan Government for transparency and accountability in utilizing the funds, and to ensure the assistance is delivered to the intended beneficiaries.

The funds announced today will be utilized to provide support in agriculture, education, health, police, reintegration process, governance and humanitarian assistance. The UN agencies and funds receiving grants are the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Mine Action Services (UNMAS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). UNICEF and FAO will implement their projects jointly with JICA.

“The United Nations welcomes the continued and outstanding support from the Government of Japan, which enables the UN agencies, funds and programmes to work more closely with their Government counterparts to deliver services to approximately 3,600,000 men, women and children in health and education, to support communities with irrigation systems, alternative livelihoods and de-mining, to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable population, internally displaced and the returnees and to strengthen institutional capacities, including law enforcement and sub-national governance,” said the UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Mark Bowden.

The Government of Japan has been supporting Afghanistan’s peace and reconstruction since 2001, and it is currently the second largest donor to Afghanistan after the US. The United Nations agencies have been a long-time implementing partner of the Government of Japan in Afghanistan.

UNICEF receives US$ 29.2 million in support of two key areas, namely US$ 15.2 million for improving the health of nearly three million people, including 600,000 women of child bearing age and 510,000 children under five and US$ 14 million for promoting sustainable quality education through the Child Friendly Schools (CFS) approach, with 945,000 students in ten provinces benefitting. Contact: Rajat Madhok, Communication Specialist, +93(0)790-507-111, rmadhok@unicef.org

UN-Habitat is funded US$ 23.77 million for its Community-Based Municipal Support Programme in five cities to support the municipalities to manage the rapid urban growth by strengthening institutional capacity of municipalities. Contact: Wataru Kawasaki, Monitoring and Reporting Coordinator, +93(0)791-611-019, wataru.kawasaki@unhabitat-afg.org

FAO is funded US$ 23.23 million for Programme for Improvement of Irrigation Systems in three provinces, targeting 70,000 rural households, for the period of 34 months. Contact: Paul Schlunke, Chief Technical Advisor, +93 (0) 797254967, paul.schlunke@fao.org

UNDP receives US$ 134.5 million for four key areas: US$ 122.5 million for support for enhancement of Afghan national police force (LOTFA); US$ 6.84 million for support for reintegration of disbanded Illegally Armed Groups (IAGs) through community development projects (NABDP); US$ 3.16 million for support to capacity and institutional building of the central and local governments in Afghanistan for provision of quality and reliable public services (NIBP) and US$ 2 million for support to capacity and institutional building of sub-national governance bodies(ASGP) Contact: Kumar M Tiku, Communications Specialist, +93 (0) 797789721, kumar.tiku@undp.org

UNODC receives total US$ 6 million for the two areas including; US$ 2.5 million for law enforcement capacity building and alternative livelihoods interventions and US$ 1.2 million for Regional Law Enforcement Cooperation. Contact: Jelena Bjelica, External Relations Officer, +93(0)796-520-857, jelena.bjelica@unodc.org

UNMAS receives US$ 3.5 million for removing 1.9 sq km of hazards in four provinces, with estimation of over 11,370 beneficiaries and employment for 352 persons, conducting nationwide survey and unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal for 1,494 communities, and coordinating mine action activities. Contact: Edwin Faigmane, Senior Programme Officer, +93(0)705966382, EdwinF@unops.org

UNHCR is funded US$ 24.25 million for enhancing potential for voluntary return, improving shelter and infrastructure, increasing supply of potable water, improving access to legal assistance, and so forth, for returnees and IDPs in Afghanistan and refugees both in Pakistan and Iran. Contact: Mohammad Nadir Farhad, Spokesperson, +93(0) 791990018, farhadm@unhcr.org

WFP receives US$ 21 million in total, US$ 20 million for Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) to provide emergency food and nutritional support and US$ 1 million for the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to provide safe and reliable air services to the entire humanitarian community. Contact: Silke Buhr, Head of Communications and Outreach, +93(0)706-004-882, silke.buhr@wfp.org

IOM is funded US$ 9 million for the continuation of Reception and Reintegration Assistance to Vulnerable Returnees from Iran and Pakistan, Support to Detection and Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking and Return Assistance to Qualified Afghans from Iran. Contact: Aanchal Khurana, Spokesperson, +93(0)793-206-076, AKHURANA@iom.int

The National Diet of Japan has approved the country's supplementary budget fiscal year 2012, which includes USD 43.5 million to support IOM humanitarian operations for vulnerable migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities worldwide.

The funding is designed to address unmet or unplanned needs during the fiscal year and is the largest amount that IOM has received to date from this Japanese funding mechanism.

The money will fund IOM projects in Afghanistan and Iran, Angola and neighbouring countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and countries neighbouring Syria.

It will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to people affected by migration crises, facilitate return and reintegration of vulnerable migrants, increase government capacity to manage increasingly complex migration flows, and enhance coping mechanisms for communities hosting or receiving displaced populations.

In Somalia, which will account for roughly 23% of the total, the money will be used to provide life-saving assistance through health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities, to promote employment and income-generation through community-based livelihood activities, and to increase the capacity of legally mandated public bodies to address the needs of IDPs.

Largely unregulated population mobility and the weak governance in Somalia have resulted in porous borders which have allowed allowing transnational crimes including piracy, human trafficking, smuggling, arms trafficking and terrorism to thrive.

Funding for IOM operations in Afghanistan, which will account for 21% of the total and also covers Iran, will support continued reintegration and livelihood assistance to returnees from Iran and Pakistan, IDPs and victims of human trafficking.

It will also help the Afghan Government and national NGOs to develop a national referral mechanism for the identification and protection of victims of trafficking. The money will also support the return and reintegration of highly qualified Afghans from Iran.

Some 9.7% of the allocation will be used in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to mitigate two humanitarian crises related to forced migration. One project will focus on directly assisting vulnerable migrants returned from Angola and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The other will help IDPs in the eastern DRC through the implementation of emergency and conflict alert mechanisms, and reinforcement of the government's emergency response.

Some USD 3.8 million will also be used to support IOM projects in Mali, Niger and Mauritania, all of which are suffering from the effects of conflict, drought, food scarcity and the return of tens of thousands of migrant workers from Libya.

The money will provide water resources to meet the short-term emergency needs of IDPs; economic and security stabilization in areas heavily impacted by returnees from Libya; reintegration for returnees; community stabilization with a focus on young people; and interventions to enhance food security.

Another USD 2 million will go towards saving lives and improving living conditions for some 93,000 refugees and migrants in Syria's neighbours - Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.

"Japan's contribution of USD 43.5 million towards IOM operations this year, the largest allocation so far through this funding mechanism, is a testament to a robust and growing partnership between Japan and IOM in relation to global humanitarian and peace building activities," said IOM Director General William Lacy Swing.

The funding announcement comes shortly after Director General Swing's fifth official visit to Japan, during which he met high level officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and delivered a keynote speech at an international workshop on migrant integration organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ota City and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations.

For further information please contact Yuko Goto at IOM Tokyo, Tel: +81-3-3595-0108, Email: iomtokyo@iom.int.

Japon – La Diète du Japon a approuvé le budget supplémentaire du pays pour l’exercice 2012, qui prévoit une allocation de 43,5 millions de dollars E.-U. pour les opérations humanitaires de l’OIM destinées aux migrants vulnérables, aux personnes déplacées à l’intérieur de leur propre pays, aux migrants de retour et aux communautés d’accueil du monde entier.

Ces fonds visent à répondre à des besoins non satisfaits ou imprévus durant l’exercice. Il s’agit de la plus grande somme que l’OIM ait reçue de ce mécanisme de financement japonais jusqu’à présent.

Cet argent financera des projets de l’OIM en Afghanistan et en Iran, en Angola et dans les pays voisins, en République démocratique du Congo, en Côte d’Ivoire, au Libéria, au Ghana, au Mali, en Mauritanie, au Niger, au Rwanda, en Somalie, au Soudan du Sud, au Soudan et dans les pays voisins de la Syrie.

Il permettra d’apporter une assistance humanitaire d’urgence à des personnes touchées par des crises migratoires, de faciliter le retour et la réintégration de migrants vulnérables, de renforcer la capacité des gouvernements à gérer des flux migratoires de plus en plus complexes, et d’améliorer les mécanismes d’adaptation des communautés abritant ou accueillant des populations déplacées.

En Somalie, qui recevra environ 23 % du montant total, ces fonds serviront à sauver des vies en fournissant des services d’accès à l’eau, d’assainissement et d’hygiène, à promouvoir la création d’emplois et la génération de revenus par des activités de subsistance locales, et à renforcer les capacités des organismes publics légalement tenus de répondre aux besoins des personnes déplacées à l’intérieur de leur propre pays.

Une mobilité de la population largement non régulée, conjuguée à une gouvernance faible en Somalie a rendu les frontières poreuses, faisant le lit de la criminalité transnationale - piraterie, traite des êtres humains, trafic illicite de migrants, trafic d’armes et terrorisme.

Le financement des opérations de l’OIM en Afghanistan, qui représentera 21 % de la somme totale et couvrira également l’Iran, permettra de poursuivre les activités de réintégration et de subsistance à l’intention de migrants de retour d’Iran et du Pakistan, de personnes déplacées à l’intérieur de leur pays et de victimes de la traite d’êtres humains.

Ces fonds aideront également le Gouvernement afghan et des ONG nationales à élaborer un mécanisme national d’orientation afin d’identifier et de protéger les victimes de la traite des êtres humains. Ils permettront en outre de contribuer au retour et à la réintégration de migrants afghans hautement qualifiés venant d’Iran.

Environ 9,7 % de l’enveloppe sera utilisé en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) pour atténuer deux crises humanitaires liées à la migration forcée. L’un des projets consistera à apporter une aide directe à des migrants vulnérables de retour d’Angola qui ont impérativement besoin d’une assistance humanitaire. L’autre projet aidera des personnes déplacées à l’intérieur de leur propre pays dans l’est de la RDC par la mise en place de mécanismes d’alerte en cas d’urgence et de conflit et le renforcement des interventions d’urgence du Gouvernement.

Quelque 3,8 millions de dollars E.-U. seront également utilisés pour soutenir des projets de l’OIM au Mali, au Niger et en Mauritanie, trois pays qui subissent les conséquences de conflits, de la sécheresse, de la pénurie alimentaire et du retour de dizaines de milliers de travailleurs migrants de Libye.

Cet argent permettra de fournir des ressources en eau qui combleront les besoins urgents à court terme de personnes déplacées à l’intérieur de leur pays, de stabiliser la situation économique et la sécurité dans les zones durement touchées par le retour des migrants de Libye, de réintégrer des migrants de retour, de stabiliser les communautés par des mesures axées sur les jeunes, et d’intervenir pour améliorer la sécurité alimentaire.

Deux autres millions de dollars E-U. permettront de sauver des vies et d’améliorer les conditions de de vie quelque 93 000 réfugiés et migrants en Turquie, en Jordanie, au Liban et en Iraq, voisins de la Libye.

« Cette contribution du Japon aux opérations de l’OIM à hauteur de 43,5 millions de dollars E.-U. est l’allocation la plus importante octroyée à ce jour par ce mécanisme de financement. Elle témoigne d’un partenariat solide et croissant entre le Japon et l’OIM en ce qui concerne les activités d’aide humanitaire et de consolidation de la paix à l’échelle mondiale», a déclaré le Directeur général de l’OIM, William Lacy Swing.

L’annonce de ce financement suit de près la cinquième visite officielle de M. Swing au Japon, durant laquelle il a rencontré des hauts fonctionnaires des Ministères des affaires étrangères, de la justice, de l’éducation, de la culture, des sports et de la science et des technologies. Il a, en outre, prononcé un discours liminaire lors d’un atelier international sur l’intégration des migrants organisé par le Ministère des affaires étrangères, la ville d’Ota et le Conseil des autorités locales pour les relations internationales.

Pour plus d’informations, prière de contacter

Yuko Goto
à l’OIM Tokyo
Tél : + 81 3 3595-0108
courriel : iomtokyo@iom.int

UNHCR is very grateful for the USD 177.35 million received from the Government of Japan during the first quarter of the 2013. 27 operations worldwide will benefit with USD 119.5 million allocated to Africa, USD 33.6 million to the Middle East, while USD 24.25 million will help Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran, as well as returnees and internally displaced persons inside Afghanistan. The Japanese funding will contribute toward UNHCR’s 2013 global requirement of USD 3.92 billion.

UNHCR is currently facing a dramatic situation, as four refugee crises are unfolding simultaneously in Syria, Mali, Sudan/South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These are taking place as UNHCR strives to manage the ongoing emergencies, as well as protracted refugee situations. UNHCR’s capacity to deliver on its mandate in an increasingly demanding environment is being tested to the limit.

Johan Cels, UNHCR’s Representative in Japan, expressed his deep gratitude saying “We are enormously grateful to the people and the Government of Japan, who have demonstrated significant and consistent commitment to supporting the most vulnerable people in successive humanitarian crises. This is true humanitarian leadership and human security in action.”

“With a million people in flight, millions more displaced internally, and thousands of people continuing to cross the border every day, Syria is spiraling towards full-scale disaster,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres. Timely and generous contributions made by Japan will enable UNHCR to provide much needed humanitarian assistance and protection to Syrian refugees in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

The Afghan refugee situation remains the world’s largest protracted refugee situation, with some 1.7 million registered Afghans in Pakistan and almost 1 million in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Some 5.7 million Afghans (4.6 million assisted by UNHCR) have opted to return voluntarily to Afghanistan, where they now represent about a quarter of the population. UNHCR appreciates the generous support from Japan to the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees adopted during the UNHCR Geneva Conference on 2-3 May 2012, which was included in the Tokyo Declaration of the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan on 8 July 2012.

Since the beginning of 2012, more than 170,000 Malians have been forced to flee to other countries and approximately 260,000 remain internally displaced (as of 1 March 2013). Japan’s contribution will enable UNHCR to respond to this crisis in Mali and the neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania.

In advancing Human Security, through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Consolidation of Peace and Good Governance, UNHCR continues to actively support the preparations leading to TICAD V (Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development) in June 2013.

Japan contributed USD 185,379,986 in 2012 and is the second largest donor to UNHCR, after the United States of America, funding 8% of the total contributions to UNHCR in 2012.

SC/11041

Security Council
6983rd Meeting (AM)

Speakers Deplore Spiking Violence against Civilians, Hail New Taliban Office, Stressing Need for All to Engage in Peace Talks

The United Nations top policy official on Afghanistan today called on the Afghan Government to bolster steps to ensure next April’s presidential and provincial council elections were transparent and inclusive, while deploring the spike in violence against civilians in recent months.

Ján Kubiš, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, briefed the Security Council on political, security and economic developments in Afghanistan over the past three months. Lauding Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s stated commitment to create a robust, credible architecture to transfer power next April, he expressed concern, however, that two crucial pieces of electoral legislation had yet to be approved, casting doubt over whether the elections would occur in a timely, acceptable fashion. As well, more effective voter registration was needed to ensure against electoral fraud.

“Orderly and timely preparations for the polls promulgation is necessary before the summer recess of the National Assembly,” Mr. Kubiš said, calling for “compromise and goodwill on all sides, notably proactive engagement of the Government”.

He said that the Afghan security force had entered the fifth and final phase of assuming lead responsibility for security nationwide, but that anti-Government elements sought to undermine that through increasingly brutal, complex assaults on high-profile targets. In the first half of 2013 alone, more than 1,000 civilians had been killed and 2,031 injured — one quarter more than in the same period in 2012.

Furthermore, he noted, Afghanistan’s relations with neighbouring Pakistan had suffered a setback following clashes between the two nations’ security forces. It was, however, encouraging that President Karzai and newly installed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif continued to have positive exchanges and high-level military contacts with the participation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Afghanistan’s representative noted that his country was at a “critical juncture”. In recent months, it had worked extensively with the United States and other stakeholders to begin direct talks with the Taliban as part of the peace process. As a result, a Taliban office had been set up two days ago in Doha, Qatar, to facilitate talks between that group and the Afghan High Peace Council based on a concrete set of principles.

Unfortunately, the statement by the Taliban representative in Doha lacked a clear commitment to those talks, he said. Moreover, the Afghan Government did not recognize the “Emirate of the Taliban”, whose flag had been raised over the office. The Afghani Government would not engage in peace talks under those circumstances, nor continue its negotiations on the bilateral security agreement with the United States. His country’s ownership of the peace and reconciliation process was indispensible and would not be compromised.

Pakistan’s representative, saying the Afghan people were like sisters and brothers, emphatically rejected the Afghan representative’s statement that terrorist factions were rooted in Pakistan. Rather, because terrorists planned attacks from both sides of the border, the two countries must work together to combat those threats. He also noted the meeting recently held between his Government, Afghanistan, and the ISAF towards that end.

Council members expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation and condemned the spike in civilian casualties. They underscored the need for fair electoral legislation and planning ahead of the 2014 elections, and welcomed the confidence-building steps in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, trade, commerce and investment opportunities, infrastructure and education, as part of the Istanbul Process. Several speakers, stressing the need to engage the Taliban in negotiations, lauded the opening of the Taliban office in Doha. Others called for greater efforts to combat opium production and trafficking.

Also speaking today were the representatives of Australia, Republic of Korea, United States, China, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Morocco, France, Argentina, Rwanda, Guatemala, Togo, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, India, Turkey, Japan, Italy, Iran, Spain, Latvia, Canada and Germany.

A representative of the European Union delegation also spoke.

The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. and adjourned at 12:45 p.m.

Asylum seekers and refugees – men, women and even children – are increasingly detained and interned around the world, as are numbers of other migrants. Sometimes detained indefinitely and often in appalling conditions, they may suffer not only deprivation of their liberty but other abuses of their human rights too. Detention may appear to be a convenient solution to states’ political quest to manage migration (often as a precursor to deportation) but it is an expensive option and has lasting effects on those detained. In the search for a more humane – and cheaper – approach, agencies and government authorities have trialed a variety of alternatives to detention.

FMR 44 includes 36 articles on immigration detention, alternatives to detention, and deportation, plus a mini-feature on the Syria crisis and a selection of other articles.

Tehran, March 16, IRNA – With a recent 6 million dollar donation in 2014, the Government of Japan, one of UNHCR’s biggest donors, supports Afghan refugees in Iran to voluntarily repatriate to Afghanistan in safety and dignity.

Also for those who stay in Iran it provides improved access to educational opportunities; health care and community based rehabilitation services; and also better livelihood opportunities. All these services fall under the umbrella of the important regional Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees, a news release issued by the UN refugee agency said Monday.

Education playing an essential role in the future of refugee youth, construction of more schools in high refugee populated areas and also provision of literacy courses will reinforce access to education for both school aged and other refugees who were not able to attend school at the proper age.

Indeed health care services are crucial to every human being and even more for the deprived levels of the society including refugees. While Iran ensures free primary health care for refugees, through this generous contribution, UNHCR will aim to support health care centers situated in refugee populated areas with the provision of essential medical supplies and medicines. It will also support the Health

Insurance Scheme (HISE) for refugees providing secondary and tertiary healthcare for over 220,000 vulnerable refugees, ensuring they receive timely and proper treatment and in addition it will support the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) project providing children and adult refugees suffering from disabilities with important rehabilitation assistance.

Access to appropriate health care will lead to the timely detection and treatment of diseases thus preventing unnecessary additional costs.

Having a job and earning a living might seem even more important to many refugee families allowing them to cover for their family costs.

Japan’s donation will therefore also have a substantial share in the opportunities available for skills training for refugees. In an attempt to alleviate the deteriorating low-income conditions of registered refugees, this contribution will improve refugee livelihoods by enhancing targeted vocational skills training leading to self-reliance.

The donation thus contributes to seeking durable solutions in various ways and supporting interventions to create the necessary environment both in the host country and back home, enabling sustainable return for those voluntarily opting for repatriation.

Iran’s exemplary hospitality gives refuge to over 840,000 Afghans and

40,000 Iraqi refugees.

Increasing Israeli-Palestinian tensions culminated in Israel launching "Operation Protective Edge" in Gaza in early July (see our latest report and commentary). The assault, which started as an aerial campaign and was later extended to include ground operations, reportedly killed more than 1,400 Palestinians throughout the month while 64 Israelis were killed in clashes inside the Gaza Strip and by Hamas rocket fire. Several attempts at reaching a ceasefire agreement failed in July. Israel backed proposals demanding a cessation of hostilities as a prerequisite for negotiating a long-term truce, while Hamas insisted that ceasefire modalities not agreed to during the fighting would never be addressed. As CrisisWatch goes to press there are reports that a three-day humanitarian ceasefire announced 1 August has already collapsed.

Iraq’s army and political leadership has made no tangible progress in responding to June’s territorial gains by jihadi and other rebel groups across the country’s north-west. A poorly-planned 15 July assault to recapture Tikrit failed while the jihadis leading the takeover, the Islamic State (formerly ISIL), moved to consolidate control in captured areas, eliminate Sunni rivals and destroy religious sites. Politicians in Baghdad continued jockeying for positions following April’s parliamentary elections, with Prime Minister Maliki showing no sign of wavering in his demand to retain his post. Unprecedented tensions also arose between Maliki and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over Kurdish territorial gains, boycotts of cabinet sessions and increasing calls for independence. (See our latest report and commentary.)

Syria’s northern armed opposition looks increasingly precarious. In the past month, opposition fighters were defeated by rival rebels from the jihadi group the Islamic State (formerly ISIL) in the eastern province Deir al-Zour while regime forces made progress in encircling rebels in Aleppo. Setbacks faced by the increasingly disorganised and poorly armed moderate opposition factions in Aleppo could provide an opportunity for IS to push further west (see our latest commentary). Meanwhile, IS and regime forces were increasingly drawn into direct confrontation as a consequence of their respective gains. IS reportedly seized a gas field east of Homs in mid-July and later took control of regime bases in Raqqa and Hassakeh provinces.

In Libya security units affiliated with Islamist-leaning Libya Revolutionaries’ Operation Room (LROR) clashed with Zintan militias over control of Tripoli airport, leaving scores dead. Many were also reported killed in ongoing violence between various government forces and militias in Benghazi during the second half of the month. The UN and most embassies evacuated their staff throughout the month citing security concerns. A newly-elected parliament faces challenges convening due to the ongoing violence: even if it does convene, its ability to find consensus on a way to tackle the country's escalating insecurity is uncertain.

South Sudan’s conflict escalated further as fighting broke out in new areas of Greater Bahr el Ghazal and both the government and SPLM in Opposition (SPLM-IO) launched offensives that displaced thousands, including a government attack on a World Food Programme distribution site. Tensions grew in the three Equatorian states, taking the form of demands for a federal government structure and frustrations over the perceived Dinka monopoly on state power. The EU imposed its first sanctions and renewed its arms embargo amid calls for the UN Security Council to follow suit. (See our recent Conflict Alert and commentary on civil society.)

Al-Shabaab stepped up its attacks across Somalia during the holy month of Ramadan, killing dozens of government and security officials. The Somali Federal Government fired its police and intelligence chiefs after an attack on the presidential palace in early July. Tribal violence and tensions over the creation of a new federal state continued in south central.

In Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah, one of the two candidates in the presidential run-off elections, rejected preliminary results of the second round of voting showing his opponent, former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani, to be in the lead (see our latest commentary). With tensions rising and Abdullah’s supporters urging him to declare a parallel government, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry intervened in mid-July and brokered an agreement between the candidates requiring an audit of all ballot boxes. The audit began on 17 July but was quickly complicated by delays and procedural disagreements between the two camps, ultimately leading to its postponement until early August. Meanwhile, violence across the country continued to increase, with numerous attacks reported including in the capital Kabul.

Army operations against tribal militants in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region caused mass displacement and left residents without adequate humanitarian assistance. The FATA Disaster Management Authority registered nearly one million IDPs fleeing operations by 22 July. The military restricted the work of foreign aid organisations and local NGOs, leaving people to rely on the charity fronts of jihadi organisations.

The fight for control of Libya between the Misrata-led Islamist-leaning coalition and the Zintan-led forces is escalating by the day. Hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced in over six weeks of clashes and heavy artillery fire. The Misrata side emerged victorious in the battle over Tripoli’s international airport, taking control of the capital, and made advances around Benghazi, but the larger political divide remains unresolved. A newly formed parliament convened in Tobruk and has the backing of the Zintan-led anti-Islamists and the international community; but the previous legislature in Tripoli challenges its authority. Without a minimum of consensus, Libya is likely to have two ineffectual governments with militias exerting real control on the ground.

Yemen’s Huthis continued to challenge the government’s authority, potentially undermining the already-fragile transition. Throughout the month Huthis organised mass anti-government protests in the capital Sanaa while armed supporters gathered around the city. In late August, their leaders rejected a government offer to resign; ongoing negotiations are hung on the complicated issue of fuel subsidies. Counter rallies largely attended by rivals from the Sunni Islamist Islah party and supported by President Hadi only served to escalate tensions. (See our latest report on the Huthis.)

For the first time since 2011, the U.S. intervened militarily in Iraq in August. Although the operation was initially explained by the need to avert a potential “genocide” of the northern Yazidi community and protect U.S. personnel and assets from the jihadi Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIL), its objectives were later expanded to include the protection of critical infrastructure such as Mosul dam. Meanwhile in Baghdad, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki finally agreed to step down after most of his domestic and international backers joined in supporting his nominated replacement, fellow Dawa party member Haider al-Abadi. (See our recent commentary on IS.)

Syria’s northern armed opposition faced an increasingly dire situation as regime forces continued advancing in Aleppo and jihadis from IS gained territory north of the city. IS also continued its push to extend and consolidate control in the east, where it executed hundreds of tribal members in response to a local uprising against its rule in Deir al-Zour province and captured the regime’s last remaining stronghold in Raqqah province.

In one of the most serious spillovers of the Syrian conflict into Lebanon, the border town of Arsal witnessed heavy clashes between Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Syrian rebels that left as many as 100 dead. Militants attacked checkpoints and seized official buildings before a counteroffensive by the Lebanese army, aided by Syrian Air Force raids, reclaimed the city after a 5-day battle.

The death toll from Israeli-Palestinian fighting in the Gaza Strip continued to mount: by the time a ceasefire agreement was reached on 26 August, more than 2100 mostly civilian Palestinians, at least 66 Israeli soldiers and 6 civilians inside Israel had been killed since the start of hostilities in July. Initial reports on the details of the ceasefire agreement suggested terms were vague and discussions of core issues had been deferred to later talks. (See our latest briefing and commentary)

Mass anti-government protests in Pakistan are threatening to undermine the country’s fragile democratic transition and have raised fears of an impending military intervention (see our recent Conflict Alert). For weeks, protests leaders have called for Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff’s resignation, the dissolution of parliament and new elections. In mid-August they led supporters into Islamabad’s “Red Zone”, home to several key government buildings. The military later came directly into the fray, with army chief General Raheel Sharif reportedly intending to mediate and then act as guarantor of a negotiated settlement between government and protesters.

India-Pakistan relations deteriorated sharply as the two states again clashed over Kashmir. Deadly exchanges-of-fire along the Line of Control resumed, with each side claiming civilian casualties. India cancelled foreign secretary-level talks aimed at setting an agenda for resuming the countries’ dialogue process after Pakistan’s High Commissioner met Kashmiri separatist leaders in New Delhi.

Fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated sharply. While the army attempted to encircle major cities Donetsk and Luhansk, Russia stepped up support for the rebels and reportedly deployed troops inside Ukraine. According to UN estimates, the total number of casualties more than doubled in the past month.

July’s ceasefire agreement between armed groups in the Central African Republic failed to translate into a truce on the ground. Scores, many civilians, were killed in deadly fighting fueled by internal divisions among Seleka, attacks on the Muslim community in Boda by anti-balaka militias, and ongoing attempts to consolidate territorial control. Violence between Seleka and international troops also rose, with over 60 Seleka and two peacekeepers killed in early August clashes.

Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram intensified attacks in Cameroon’s Far North, after high-profile political kidnappings in Kolofata in late July. Heavy clashes between militants and Cameroonian forces were reported in late August, days after Nigerian soldiers were seen crossing the border for safety.

Clashes between Degodia and Garre clans intensified in Kenya’s northeast, killing over 77 in late August according to reports from the Kenyan Red Cross. Meanwhile, recent Al-Shabaab attacks fuelled revenge ethnic killings and kidnappings in coastal Lamu County, prompting authorities to extend the curfew in the region.

Biannual FAO Food Outlook report and new Food Price Index released

9 October 2014, Rome - Food markets are more stable and prices for most agricultural commodities are sharply lower than they have been in recent years, according to the latest edition of FAO's biannual Food Outlook report and a new update to the Organization's monthly Food Price Index, both out today.

Bumper harvests and abundant stockpiles are key factors helping drive down international cereal prices, according to the report.

World wheat production in 2014 is forecast to reach a new record, it says.

For coarse grains, prospects for near-record production levels, combined with already-high inventories point to a very comfortable world supply and demand balance in 2014/15, especially for maize.

While rice outputs could decline slightly this year, stockpiles remain "huge" and are sufficient to cover over one-third of projected consumption during the 2015-16 period.

All told, world cereal production in 2014 is anticipated to reach 2 523 million tonnes (2.5 billion tonnes) — an upward revision of 65 million tonnes from FAO's initial forecast in May. World cereal stocks should hit their highest level in 15 years by the end of the cropping season in 2015.

Global output of oilseeds is also forecast to exceed last season's record due to further expansion of soybean production.

Meanwhile, world production of cassava looks to be on track to achieving another record high, driven by sustained growth in Africa, where the tuber is a strategic crop for food security and poverty alleviation.

Today's Food Outlook anticipates that world sugar production will increase in 2015-16, as well.

Meat production is set to grow moderately in 2014, but not enough to ease prices from their current high levels, while milk production continues to grow steadily in many countries.

Production of fish is also on the rise, driven largely by aquaculture and less-than-expected El Niño impacts.

Price drops across the board - almost

The FAO Food Price Index (FPI), also released today, has registered its sixth consecutive monthly drop — the longest period of continuous decline in the value of the index since the late 1990s — averaging 191.5 points in September 2014.

Among the FPI sub-indices, sugar and dairy fell most sharply, followed by cereals and oils, while meat remained firm (more).

Although meat prices remain high they could be stabilizing: the September Meat Price index remains 22 points up versus the same time last year, a historic high, but registered only a slight increase over August (0.3 of a point) after months of steady hikes.

High meat prices and large trade volumes for products in the animal protein category, including meat, dairy and fish, mean that the global food import bill — that is, the aggregate amount that all countries spend on imported foodstuffs — will surpass $1 trillion again this year, for the fifth year in a row.

The FAO FPI is a trade-weighted index that measures prices of five major food commodities on international markets.

While price trends for these commodities at the macro level are a useful indicator of global trends and can signal when consumer food prices might be at risk, they are not always directly mirrored in national, regional and local markets.

Regional differences highlighted in second report

To help spot food price spikes affecting consumers in the developing world, particularly in low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs), FAO recently launched a new website that reports abnormally high prices of staple foods in markets in 85 different countries.

Additionally, the Organization produces a quarterly report, Crop Prospects and Food Situation, that focuses on developments affecting food security in developing countries and LIFDCs.

The latest edition, published today alongside Food Outlook and the October FPI, highlights a number of hot-spots of particular concern.

The Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has disrupted markets, farming activities and livelihoods, seriously affecting the food security of large numbers of people, it says. And irregular rains in several areas of the Sahelian belt will result in mixed production prospects.

Food crop production in the Central African Republic is up from 2013's sharply reduced output, but still remains well below average due to the impact of widespread civil insecurity, the report adds.

In Eastern Africa, the overall food security situation is improving as harvesting has started in several countries. But while food prices in the region are generally stable or declining, they are at record high levels in Somalia and the Sudan.

Meanwhile, drought conditions in Central America have significantly reduced the 2014 main first season harvest in key producing countries.

Drought conditions have also been a problem in the Near East, leading to a below-average cereal harvest for the region, while the conflicts in Syria and Iraq continue to significantly degrade food security.

Tehran – Refugees have an important role in the reconstruction of their homeland. The Government of Japan has consistently supported efforts to promote education, livelihood opportunities and access to health care for Afghan refugees in Iran so they may be healthy and better equipped to contribute to the Afghan society when they choose to return in a safe and dignified manner. In addition to the 6 million US dollars donated in February 2014 to assist Afghan refugees in Iran, the Government of Japan recently donated a further nearly 1.2 million US dollars to support UNHCR and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s efforts to provide educational and health services for Afghan refugees in the country.

One example of the projects made possible through Japan’s generous contribution has been literacy classes for female refugees. The courses have helped the refugee women become more self-reliant and provided a foundation for their further education and skills training. “Not only can I now read and write,” said Zahra, an Afghan refugee mother attending a literacy class in Kerman Province, “I can also understand and help my children with some of their schoolwork.”

For more than 30 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has hosted and supported one of the largest urban refugee populations in the world, and presently hosts almost a million Afghan refugees who left their home due to conflict and war. “It is important that in spite of escalating crises in other parts of the world and the global economic turmoil, Japan stands committed to support Afghan refugees. We are grateful for this gesture,” said Sivanka Dhanapala, UNHCR Representative in Iran.

Gorgan, Golestan Prov., Jan 15, IRNA – Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Iran Yasuto Takeuchi said his office is ready for further cooperation with Iran in the area of improving water productivity.

Speaking in a local meeting on water management here on Thursday, the Japanese official termed positive the plan for increasing water efficiency and improving production level.

He said with regard to the five-year period of the plan and inclement weather such as drought and water shortage the results have been achieved with cooperation and participation of farmers despite all difficulties and shortcomings.

He further remarked that for the success of future plans participation and cooperation of people is needed.

Yasuto Takeuchi noted that efforts are underway to transfer experiences to the people and present some patterns and plans in order to assist farmers in optimum utilization of water resources.

Meanwhile, Sakamoto who is one of the JICA representatives in Iran pointed to the history of water management in the country and said Japan possesses a vast historical record in utilization of agriculture water and people’s participation in this field.

He said his country has had close cooperation with Iran in different fields one of which is the project for implementation of water management in “Tazehabad” area in Golestan.

Also speaking at the session, Managing Director of Golestan Water Company Iraj Heydarian called for transfer of expertise in different fields such as holding of educational workshops, management of water resources, floods and drought.

Underlining the importance of water in agriculture, he said under the status quo the agriculture sector is considered the biggest water consumer but irrigation efficiency is not much desirable.

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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative and Deputy Representative along with the Deputy Director General of the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA), Deputy Head of Mission for the Australian Embassy and Second Secretary from the Japanese Embassy inaugurated Molavi School located in Tabadkan area in Mashhad. The area hosts one of the highest concentrations of refugees of school age in the province (22,000 in Tabadkan out of 47,444 in Khorasan e Razavi province) and one third of all refugee students in Mashhad.

Molavi School is one of five schools that in 2014 UNHCR committed to construct as part of the support to the Government to benefit the refugee and host communities (the other four are in Kerman, Tehran, Pakdasht, and Qom). Through its tripartite agreement with Ministry of Education and BAFIA, UNHCR covered the construction costs of the school while all additional costs associated with allocation of the land, equipment, provision of certified teachers and other necessary human resources as well as the running and maintenance costs have been contributed by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Funding for the construction was provided by the People of Japan, the European Commission and Germany. Australia also provided support to establish a library within the school. The school has 12 classrooms divided between 4 floors and is equipped with a laboratory, prayer room, workshop, community hall, and library.

A number of parents of the refugee students participated in the inauguration ceremony. The refugees eagerly expressed their appreciation for the new school in their area and pride in the quality education available to their children. Construction began in May 2014 and the school opened on 29 September 2014. Molavi School currently has 500 students and was named after a famous 13th century Persian poet (also known as Rumi) who is a shared cultural figure among Afghans and Iranians. Enrolment is expected to reach 700 by the next school year and has already started bringing quality education into walking distance for many students.

Japan - The Japanese Government has committed additional funds to support IOM’s operations in the face of increasingly complex humanitarian crises.

From its “supplementary budget FY2014,” the Japanese Government will avail a total of US$31.5 million to support IOM activities for vulnerable migrants, internally displaced persons, returnees and affected communities.

The funds will support life-saving and recovery activities as well as contribute to increasing the capacity of various governments to manage complex migration flows and to cope with displacement resulting from natural disasters and conflicts.

In Afghanistan funding will be used to provide assistance to vulnerable Afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan and to build local capacities of communities of return through return of skilled nationals.

A significant amount (USD 22,360,000) has been allocated towards IOM programmes in African countries including Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Djibouti.

IOM’s programmes in these countries aim to increase the resilience and human security of vulnerable displaced populations and host communities, as well as build the capacity of government officials in integrated and coordinated border management.

In support of IOM’s continuous efforts in the Ebola response, the Japanese funds will look to improve Ebola prevention among migrants and border communities in Guinea and neighbouring countries.

In Ghana the assistance will increase migrant, mobile population and border community preparedness and response to Ebola. In Cote d’Ivoire, the funds will build the capacity for health and border management officials who are managing the Ebola outbreak.

The funding will provide much needed support to the regional response to the Syrian crisis, in addition to aiding vulnerable communities in conflict-affected areas in Yemen.

In Ukraine, Japanese funding will help IOM to improve access to basic services and livelihoods in selected communities of the Donbass region.

Funding will also go towards repair and reconstruction of centres for disabled children in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Japanese government in the past has supported IOM’s humanitarian and recovery activities including the delivery of immediate live saving relief, community stabilization and early recovery activities, as well as emergency return and reintegration assistance for migrants caught in crises.

For more information, please contact

Yuko Goto
IOM Tokyo
Tel: + 81-3-3595-0108
Email: iomtokyo@iom.int