Japan Delivers Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza through UNRWA

In response to the deterioration of humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the Government of Japan decided to implement in-kind humanitarian assistance for Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip under Japan’s International Peace Cooperation Law based on the request from UNRWA. This in-kind humanitarian assistance, which arrived at the El-Arish Airport, Egypt on May 17, 2024, consists of 5,000 blankets, 10,000 water containers, 4,500 plastic sheets and 8,500 sleeping mats to be delivered to Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip through UNRWA.

On this occasion, the Embassy of Japan in Egypt, in coordination with UNRWA Representative Office, Cairo, organized a handing-over event of this in-kind humanitarian assistance on May 20, 2024, at the Embassy’s premises in Cairo.

At the event, H.E. Mr. OKA Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, Mr. UEKUSA Yasuhiko, Director, International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, Cabinet Office of Japan and Ms. Sahar Al-Jobury, Chief of UNRWA Representative Office, Cairo spoke on the efforts of Japan and UNRWA in response to the current situation in Gaza as well as the long-standing cooperation between Japan and UNRWA. Ambassador OKA also expressed his appreciation for the cooperation with the Government of Egypt and other Egyptian partners in implementing Japan's humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

During the event, a catalog of in-kind humanitarian assistance delivered by the Government of Japan this time was handed over to Ms. Sahar by Mr. UEKUSA in the presence of Ambassador OKA.

Since October 7, 2023, the Government of Japan has been implementing humanitarian assistance worth more than USD 100 million in areas of food, water, health and medical care through international organizations such as UNRWA and Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) to improve humanitarian situation in Palestine, especially Gaza Strip. In addition to those assistance to Palestine, Japan decided to provide Grant Aid of USD 8.3 million through WHO to hospitals in Egypt where seriously injured persons and newborns from Gaza are received and treated.

Government of Japan will continue its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in response to the needs on the ground while continuing its own diplomatic efforts toward improving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.