Arab News Japan

Japan is extending 630,145 US dollars in grant to Mines Advisory Group for the procurement of mine clearance devices to facilitate its operation in Southern Lebanon, after a grant agreement was signed on Friday by Ambassador OKUBO Takeshi and Sylvain Lefort, Country Director of Mines Advisory Group in Lebanon.

The aid will support the villages of Houla, Meiss El Jabal, Blida, Markaba, Arab Ellouaizeh and Amra, Marjeyoun District, Nabatieh Governorate.

In partnership with Japan for the past seven year, the Mines Advisory Group has has cleared landmines and unexploded remnants across Lebanon and protected thousands of people from the threats of explosives.

Japan plans to upgrade the organization’s special equipment and covering expenditures. With this assistance, the group will will be able to help 15,500 citizens, including Syrian refugees, secure safe access to farm land.

Lefort expressed deep gratitude to the people and the government of Japan for the continuous support considering it has had enormous impact in improving human security across the country

Ambassador Takeshi also signed another agreement on Friday pledging to extend 599,975 US dollars in grant to Norwegian People’s Aid mainly for the procurement of demining devices.

The agreement was signed with Simon Weatherbed, Country Director of Norwegian People’s Aid in Lebanon.

Norwegian People’s Aid is a well-known international NGO for its various humanitarian activities including post-conflict reconstruction and humanitarian relief during conflicts. The organization has so far delivered five demining projects across Lebanon under the financial support of Japan. 

Japan will continuously support to finance the procurement of demining devices and bear the other cost necessary for the smooth demining operations in the village of Yarun, Bint Jbeil District, in Nabatieh Governorate. 

This grant assistance will benefit approximately 10,000 local populations, including Syrian refugees, in their safe access to farm land and is expected to improve the agricultural production in the area.

The Asian country is also supporting the Dan Church Aid and the Japanese Ambassador to Lebanon signed an agreement with the organization’s Country Director Matthew Benson.

Dan Church Aid is a well-known international NGO for its worldwide operations of landmines and cluster munitions clearance.

Japan has decided to expand its support for the organization’s operations in the villages of Marwahin, Al Dhaira, and Alma al Shaab, Tyre District, in Southern Governorate. This grant assistance will contribute to protect more than 11,000 citizens, including approximately 900 Syrian refugees.