The Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced that Japan will provide $65 million in humanitarian and development assistance for the Gaza Strip, which has been suffering from a prolonged blockade and recurrent conflicts.
Motegi said that the aid will be delivered through UN agencies and international organizations, and will focus on four areas: health, water and sanitation, food security and economic recovery. He added that Japan will also support the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and the removal of unexploded ordnance in Gaza.
The Foreign Minister stressed that Japan is committed to supporting the Palestinian people and achieving a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. He urged both parties to resume direct negotiations and refrain from unilateral actions that undermine the prospects of peace.
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Motegi also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Egypt, Qatar and other countries in mediating the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in May, which ended 11 days of intense fighting that killed more than 250 people and displaced thousands more. He said that Japan will continue to work with the international community to prevent further escalation and violence in the region.
The Foreign Minister explained that the health sector will receive $15 million to improve access to essential health services, especially for women and children, and to strengthen the capacity of health facilities to cope with the pandemic and potential outbreaks of infectious diseases. He said that Japan will also provide medical equipment and supplies, such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators and personal protective equipment.
The water and sanitation sector will receive $20 million to rehabilitate and upgrade water networks, wells and desalination plants, and to improve hygiene practices and waste management. Motegi said that Japan will also help install solar panels and batteries to ensure a stable supply of electricity for water facilities.
The food security sector will receive $15 million to provide emergency food assistance to the most vulnerable households, and to support agricultural production and income generation activities. Motegi said that Japan will also help farmers access quality seeds, fertilizers, tools and irrigation systems.
The economic recovery sector will receive $15 million to create short-term employment opportunities for youth and women, and to support small and medium enterprises to resume their businesses and access markets. Motegi said that Japan will also help develop vocational skills and entrepreneurship among the young population.
The Foreign Minister stressed that Japan is committed to supporting the Palestinian people and achieving a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. He urged both parties to resume direct negotiations and refrain from unilateral actions that undermine the prospects of peace.
Motegi also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Egypt, Qatar and other countries in mediating the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in May, which ended 11 days of intense fighting that killed more than 250 people and displaced thousands more. He said that Japan will continue to work with the international community to prevent further escalation and violence in the region.
The current situation in Gaza is one of the most devastating and complex humanitarian crises in the world. Since 7 October 2023, Israel and Hamas have been engaged in a brutal war that has killed thousands of people, displaced hundreds of thousands more, and destroyed vital infrastructure and services in the besieged coastal enclave.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 9,000 people have been killed, including more than 1,000 children, and more than 50,000 have been injured since the start of the hostilities. The majority of the casualties are civilians who have been targeted by Israeli air strikes, artillery fire, and ground incursions. Israel has also accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields and launching rockets indiscriminately from densely populated areas.
Israel says it has killed more than 1,400 Hamas fighters and destroyed hundreds of their military sites, including rocket launchers, tunnels, command centers, and weapons factories. It also says it has freed 241 hostages who were abducted by Hamas during the initial assault on 7 October. Israel claims it is acting in self-defense and to protect its citizens from Hamas’s rocket attacks, which have killed 330 Israeli soldiers and civilians.
The United Nations and many countries have called for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to end the cycle of violence. However, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected any truce that does not guarantee Israel’s security and the elimination of Hamas’s military capabilities. Hamas, meanwhile, has demanded an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007 and has crippled the economy and living conditions of the two million Palestinians living there.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, as the war has exacerbated the already chronic shortages of food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies. More than half a million people have been displaced from their homes and are seeking shelter in schools, mosques, hospitals, and other public buildings. Many of these facilities have also been damaged or destroyed by Israeli strikes. The UN says that more than 90% of Gaza’s water is unfit for human consumption and that sewage is overflowing into the streets. The risk of disease outbreaks is high, especially among children.
The international community has pledged to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, but access is limited by Israel’s restrictions on the movement of goods and people across the borders. The UN says it needs $95 million to meet the most urgent needs of the affected population for the next three months. However, it also warns that humanitarian aid alone is not enough to address the root causes of the conflict and that a lasting political solution is needed to end the suffering of the people in Gaza and Israel.
The announcement of the Japanese aid comes as Gaza faces a severe humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and the lack of vaccines. According to the UN, more than 80% of the population in Gaza depends on humanitarian assistance, and more than half live below the poverty line. The UN also warns that Gaza’s sole power plant is at risk of running out of fuel, which could lead to a collapse of essential services such as health care, water supply and sewage treatment.