Japan won’t reduce aid to Afghans, says envoy

KABUL (Pajhwok): Japan’s Ambassador in Kabul Takayoshi Kormaya says his country’s assistance to Afghans will continue as before, with no reduction in aid.

He said this at a meeting with Minister of Refugee and Repatriation Maulvi Abdul Kabir, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR) said in a statement.

Kormaya said Japan allocated 7.5 million US dollars through United Nations agencies during the current fiscal year to address challenges faced by Afghan returnees from other countries.

Referring to the global decline in humanitarian assistance, he assured that Japan’s support for the Afghan people would remain steady and would not be reduced.

He also pointed out that following the ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, many Afghan farmers encountered economic difficulties, as suitable alternative crops could be introduced as yet.

For his part, Maulvi Abdul Kabir welcomed the continuation of Japan’s aid, calling it vital and stressed the importance of minimising unnecessary administrative costs in the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

He also urged Japan’s cooperation in the construction of residential townships for Afghan returnees.

kk/ma