KAMPALA – Japan government has announced a contribution of US$ 7.5 million to the United Nations to support refugees and host communities in Uganda over a period of one year.
The support will go to five UN agencies including; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Office for Project Service (UNOPS).
The official announcement was made by the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Kazuaki Kameda in the presence of the Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Hillary Onek, during a press conference held at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala.
The IOM Chief of Mission, Mr. Ali Abdi said; “While recognizing the serious impact of displacement on vulnerable groups such as women and children, the Government of Japan has been extending financial support to address the humanitarian crisis, having consistently paid close attention to the plight of Uganda’s local communities hosting refugees, most of which already lag behind the rest of the country in economic and social development.”
“I am pleased to announce a fresh contribution by the Government of Japan through several UN Agencies in the same spirit. In addition, Japanese Government has allocated US$2.8million for the activities of a number of Japanese NGOs which have presence in Uganda more than two years to actively deal with protection issues for refugee children and other vulnerable people,” said Ambassador Kameda.
He said that Japan’s sustain investment in Uganda’s future generations speaks to its global leadership on sustainable development and its long-standing partnership with Uganda, and indeed the Continent.
Uganda still remains the largest refugee hosting country in Africa with more than 1.2 million refugees and asylum-seekers.
Majority of the refugees and asylum seekers in Uganda originate from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. As a country, Mr. Onek said, “we re-affirm our continued commitment to receive and host refugees in dignity until they will feel safe to return to their countries of origin.”
