Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Japan reconfirmed its commitment to stand by the people of Lebanon and help them weather the compounded crises they are faced with on March 16, when Japan’s Ambassador to Lebanon Takeshi Okubo visited several projects assisted by the country to address Lebanon’s immediate- and short-term needs.

Japan’s Ambassador to Lebanon Takeshi Okubo (L) and , President of Al Aranisa Charitable Association, Abdulla Al Muhammad. (Supplied)

Okubo signed a grant contract with the president of Al-Aranisa Charitable Association, Abdulla Al-Muhammad, in Lebanon on Wednesday. The agreement is for a grant amounting to $90,900 to the association, to enhance the Qabiit dispensary, the only medical center in the Akkar region, which has been in service since 2015.

In recognition of the dispensary’s contribution to the surrounding communities in the provision of affordable health care services, the grant will assist the Grassroots Human Security Program in a first project with the Lebanese Armed Forces’ Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) directorate.

The grant is expected to enhance Qabiit dispensary radiology, imaging, dental and ophthalmic departments, allowing it to secure better and affordable primary healthcare services to around 1,250 patients annually, including 400 Syrians.

During the signing ceremony, Okubo reiterated Japan’s willingness to support humanitarian organizations in Lebanon. In response, Al-Aranisa expressed its gratitude by thanking the Japanese Embassy for the initiatives implemented in support of the deprived region of Akkar, which is currently hosting a large number of refugees.

Japan’s Ambassador to Lebanon Takeshi Okubo (L) Executive Manager of Al Shifaa for Medical and Humanitarian Services Association Majdi Krayem (R). (Supplied)

The second grant that was signed on Wednesday is one worth $83,344 to Al-Shifaa for the Medical and Humanitarian Services association, to support Nahr El-Bared Refugee Camp Medical Center Clinics, which provides various primary health care services to vulnerable communities.

Okubo signed a grant contract with the executive manager of Al-Shifaa for the Medical and Humanitarian Services Association, Dr. Majdi Krayem.

The grant, delivered through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program, will contribute towards enhancing the health facilities available, such as the acquisition of ultrasound and ENT units, which are critical to ensure the continuity of health services and will enable around 4,800 patients, including 150 refugees from Syria, to have access to affordable and high quality echography and ENT services.

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Okubo showed Japan’s interest in supporting refugee camps in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Al-Shifaa thanked the Japanese embassy for its “generous support” and expressed its gratitude to be able to extend its services to Nahr El-Bared camp and its surroundings, after operating in different Palestinian camps in Lebanon.

Japan’s Ambassador to Lebanon Takeshi Okubo (L) and Simon Weatherbed, Country Director of Norwegian People’s Aid-Lebanon. (Supplied)

The third agreement signed on Wednesday was a grant worth $630,000 to Norwegian People’s Aid-Lebanon (NPA), delivered through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program, to support its landmine clearance activities in Yarun Bint Jbeil.

The grant contract was signed by Okubo and the country director of Norwegian People’s Aid-Lebanon, Simon Weatherbed.

The government of Japan has supported landmine clearance across Lebanon since 2001, while NPA-Lebanon has been conducting clearance of cluster munition remnants (CMR) since 2006 and clearance of minefields since 2017. In consideration of its long-term contributions to the provision of protection and safety to communities, Japan has continuously extended financial support to NPA-Lebanon for the procurement of de-mining devices. The project is anticipated to greatly enhance NPA’s landmine clearance activities, which are conducted under the umbrella of the Lebanese Armed Forces, allowing to secure the safety and economic development for 10,600 people, including 600 Syrian refugees.

Japan’s Ambassador to Lebanon Takeshi Okubo (L) and Manal Said, General Secretary of the Union of Progressive Women (R). (Supplied)

The fourth agreement signed on March 16 is a grant worth $81,617 to the Union of Progressive Women, delivered through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program, to enhance its medical center laboratory in Dahr El-Ahmar, a Primary Health Care (PHC) centre in Rashaya, Bekaa, through funding a set of necessary equipment for performing blood tests.

The grant contract was signed by Okubo and the general secretary of the Union of Progressive Women, Manal Said.

The grant will increase the capacity of the Dahr El-Ahmar Medical Center Laboratory, which will allow the center to secure blood tests for 2,400 patients, 360 of which are Syrian refugees, from Rashaya, Dahr El Ahmar and Bekaa, annually.