Japan envoy meets TDPs in Jalozai Camp, reviews facilities

ISLAMABAD: Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Hiroshi Inomata on Thursday visited Jalozai camp with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi, secretary Planning and Development, PDMA Director General Amir Afaq, FATA Secretariat Shakeel Qadir Khan, UNDP Country Director Marc-André Franche, and WFP Country Representative Lola Castro to meet the temporarily displace people (TDPs) receiving supports from Japan through UNDP and WFP.

WFP has been distributing food and meeting the nutrition needs of Jalozai Camp for TDPs with Japan’s $5 million grant. The TDPs expressed gratitude their to the ambassador for Japan’s support, and expressed a desire to return to their communities of origin in FATA. Ambassador Inomata also visited WFP Nutrition Facility in Jalozai camp where acutely malnourished children, pregnant women and lactating mothers receive treatment.

UNDP has also been supporting TDPs with Japan’s support through vocational training, social cohesion, and rehabilitation of community infrastructure. Twenty young trainees from FATA received certificates from the ambassador. One of the trainees stated that he hopes to utilise his newly acquired skills to contribute to the development of his community in FATA. This effort will expand for returnees in North Waziristan to recover the livelihood in their own communities and UNDP and FATA Secretariat, the implementation partner of the project, signed on the letter of agreement in the presence of the ambassador.

Inomata visited Jalozai Humanitarian Response Facility (HRF), which was constructed by the WFP. Japan is the largest donor of the HRF. The planning of the facilities has started after floods in 2010 in order to prepare for natural disasters. Japan, which has experienced natural disasters and has knowledge of disaster prevention, has also provided Pakistan with assistance to strengthen the weather forecasting system, improve flood warning and management capacity, and install weather surveillance radar.

The Japanese ambassador stated that he is grateful for personally witnessing the positive impacts and results of the assistance from the people of Japan on such key issues for Pakistan. He added that he hopes that the government plan to facilitate the return of all TDPs by December 2016 will be implemented and that the rehabilitation of those displaced from FATA will be accelerated in order to increase the stability of border area, which will be a crucial factor in achieving peace and stability in Pakistan as a whole.

Speaking on the occasion, UNDP Country Director Marc-Andre Franche said that “the generous support from the government of Japan has enabled UNDP and our partners to work hand in hand with the communities to improve their living conditions during the displacement period and to facilitate a dignified return to FATA by improving access to basic services, developing business skills and promoting social cohesion. This support represents the first step on a long road to recovery and prosperity in FATA, the emergence of a peaceful and productive society in FATA will require sustainable and long-term commitment from us all”.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

Back to Top