RAMALLAH, State of Palestine, 31 March 2015 – The Government of Japan is contributing USD 756,000 in support of UNFPA’s humanitarian response to women, girls and children in the Gaza Strip.

The grant from the Government of Japan will enable the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to assist an estimated number of 60,000 women and 5,000 children through 210 health care providers. More specifically, UNFPA will be working closely together with the Palestinian Ministry of Health as well as national health care centres to ensure access to family planning, safe births, antenatal and post-natal care for pregnant women and women in the reproductive age.  The contribution is a response to last year’s conflict in Gaza, which created an urgent need of medical supplies, equipment and dignity kits for displaced and marginalised women and girls in the Gaza Strip.

“This grant is a token of support from Japanese peoplewho hold out their hands to improve reproductive health services for the women, girls and children of Palestine. Japan recently decided to disburse USD 100 million mainly through international organizations including UNFPA. UNFPA is one of our important partners to implement humanitarian assistance in Gaza. We continue working closely to make our project a major success”, said Mr. Junya Matsuura, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority. UNFPA will be able to reach vulnerable women and strengthen community preparedness and response through mobile outreach teams in isolated and remote areas of the Gaza Strip

UNFPA is thankful to Japan for strengthening the work of UNFPA.  “We are extremely grateful for the continuous support and dedication of the People of Japan to improve the conditions of reproductive health care for women, adolescent girls and children in the Gaza Strip. A grant like this is extremely crucial to the work of UNFPA and to the People of Palestine”, said Mr.Anders Thomsen, UNFPA Representative in the State of Palestine.

The Government of Japan has extended its official development assistance to Palestinians since the 1993 Oslo Accord. The assistance amounts to approximately USD 1.6 billion.

For more information, please contact:

Anders Thomsen, UNFPA Representative, State of Palestine

Tel: + 972 54 9201341  thomsen@unfpa.org

Ziad Yaish, UNFPA Assistant Representative, State of Palestine

Tel: + 972 54  8174018 yaish@unfpa.org

Diala Zaineddin-Dodin, Japan Representative Office

Tel: + 972 24 13120  diala@mofa.go.jp