- We will disburse our grant of approximately $65 million without delay: Japanese Foreign Minister
Arab News Japan
Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko reiterated Japan’s support toward improving humanitarian access into Gaza while also confirming the disbursement of $65 million without delay.
Speaking at the follow-up meeting of the international conference which was hosted online by the Government of France, the Japanese foreign minister said, “We will disburse our grant of approximately $65 million without delay. I hope that other countries will do the same as soon as possible.
“We will work closely with the international community and will do our best to improve humanitarian access,” the Japanese foreign minister added.
Kamikawa also welcomed the pause in fighting, the release of hostages and the scaling up of humanitarian deliveries into Gaza, but she expressed her displeasure as fighting had resumed.
“It is important that the parties concerned return to the deal in order to improve critical humanitarian situation and calming down the situation as soon as possible,” she said.
In the statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza on November 29, G7 Foreign Ministers underscored the importance of protecting civilians and compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law.
“We also support future pauses as needed to enable assistance to be scaled up, and to facilitate the release of all hostages,” said Kamikawa.
“On December 1, medical items from Japan arrived at El-Arish airport, arranged by JICA. They are additional relief supplies following the ones arrived in November. However, we are concerned about the long queues of trucks on the Egyptian side. There is a need to increase processing capacities, including the use of the Kerem Shalom crossing.
The meeting was chaired by HE Ms. Catherine COLONNA (Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, French Republic) and was attended by representatives of other countries including EU member states, G7 countries and other countries as well as international organizations.