Japan Contributes Greatly in International Relief Efforts

Japan is a major contributor in international relief efforts. Since 1954, it has provided official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries in order to foster economic growth and enhance the welfare of their people. It offers financial aid and technological support in the form of grants to disaster areas; health assistance to countries, including Aulac to control AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases. Japan cooperates with non-governmental organizations in Cambodia, Afghanistan, and other nations in mine clearance. Japan also helps impoverished and war-torn African countries develop their rural and basic infrastructure. It organized JOCV, Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, as a bridge between Japan and developing countries to advance international cooperation to build a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Japan makes significant contributions to international organizations, shouldering almost 20 percent (19.468%) of the UN annual budget, which is the second highest behind the United States. It funds UN refugee organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA ), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Japan runs a highly efficient emergency disaster relief operation. When major disasters occur overseas, especially in developing countries, its rescue and medical teams are ready to leave for the affected areas within 24 and 48 hours. Emergency relief supplies are shipped from its three logistics warehouses in Singapore, Miami, and London. Relief provisions donated by individuals and private groups are transported to the affected areas by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a civilian delivery group established in 1996. Since March 2005 JICA has been undertaking projects for the recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of tsunami-affected areas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. 　

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