From: Sudan Press
Subject: Japanese Prime Minister Abe announced approximately $25 million assistance in response to deteriorating situation in South Sudan
PRESS RELEASE
Embassy of Japan in South Sudan
14 January 2014
January 14, 2014 (SSNA) — On 14 January, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his speech made during his visit to Ethiopia following Cote d’Ivoire and Mozambique, announced that Japan is preparing to implement immediate assistance amounting to approximately $25 million to respond to the deteriorating situation in South Sudan. Among the assistance, about $20 million is planned to be utilised in response to the urgent appeal made by the United Nations on 31 December 2013 (Response Plan). The assistance is expected to cover the most pressing humanitarian needs stipulated in the Plan, such as food and nutrition, health, water and sanitation, protection, logistics and refugees.
Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan Takeshi Akamatsu said, “Japan has been gravely concerned over the dire humanitarian situation throughout South Sudan. We in this connection commend the dedicated work of the United Nations and the wider humanitarian community. Our assistance, expressed by Prime Minister Abe and responding to United Nations’ urgent call, should contribute to improving the difficult situation that many South Sudanese civilians have been facing”.
As stated by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in his statement on 24 December, Japan reiterates its strong appeal to all parties concerned to end the violence and resolve the issue through dialogue. Japan supports the efforts made by relevant countries and institutions, particularly the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), towards a peaceful resolution of the situation and calls on the parties of South Sudan to sincerely respond to the efforts.
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About Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Africa, please refer to:
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/index-e.html (including the full text of his speech “Japan’s Diplomacy towards Africa: Strengthening Each Individual, One by One”)
For more information, please contact:
Hisako Ishizaki, First Secretary, Economic Cooperation Section, Embassy of Japan in South Sudan, e-mail:hisako.ishizaki@mofa.go.jp , or Shojiro Nishimura, First Secretary, Political/Economic Sections, Embassy of Japan in South Sudan, mobile: +211-(0)956481145, e-mail: shojiro.nishimura@mofa.go.jp