Tokyo: At a press conference on Tuesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that Tokyo would donate $14.3 million (JPY1.9 billion) in aid to Syria.
"Given the devastation and ongoing humanitarian crisis brought on by the recent earthquake in Syria in February, we will extend aid to Syria in the amount of $14.3 million to support those who continue to suffer from its effects in the areas of state initiatives, food, water, sanitation, health, and medical care," he said.
In response to a query from Arab News Japan regarding Syria's potential membership in the Arab League, Hayashi stated that he was aware that the organisation had lifted its 2011 suspension; however, Tokyo had no immediate plans to reopen its embassy in Damascus, despite closely monitoring the situation.
Hayashi added that Japan would also provide $5.5 million in aid to Sudan and its neighbouring nations, in addition to providing about $3.5 million through international organisations to help with the cost of food and other necessities for the conflict's displaced people. This conflict began in April of this year.
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In addition, the foreign minister noted that there is growing concern about the humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes region in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where armed groups' activities have increased since February of last year
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