Japan - The Japanese Government has committed additional funds to support IOM’s operations in the face of increasingly complex humanitarian crises.

From its “supplementary budget FY2014,” the Japanese Government will avail a total of USD 31.5 million to support IOM activities for vulnerable migrants, internally displaced persons, returnees and affected communities. 

The funds will support life-saving and recovery activities as well as contribute to increasing the capacity of various governments to manage complex migration flows and to cope with displacement resulting from natural disasters and conflicts.

In Afghanistan funding will be used to provide assistance to vulnerable Afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan and to build local capacities of communities of return through return of skilled nationals.

A significant amount (USD 22,360,000) has been allocated towards IOM programmes in African countries including Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Djibouti.

IOM’s programmes in these countries aim to increase the resilience and human security of vulnerable displaced populations and host communities, as well as build the capacity of government officials in integrated and coordinated border management.

In support of IOM’s continuous efforts in the Ebola response, the Japanese funds will look to improve Ebola prevention among migrants and border communities in Guinea and neighbouring countries.

In Ghana the assistance will increase migrant, mobile population and border community preparedness and response to Ebola.  In Cote d’Ivoire, the funds will build the capacity for health and border management officials who are managing the Ebola outbreak. 

The funding will provide much needed support to the regional response to the Syrian crisis, in addition to aiding vulnerable communities in conflict-affected areas in Yemen.

In Ukraine, Japanese funding will help IOM to improve access to basic services and livelihoods in selected communities of the Donbass region.

Funding will also go towards repair and reconstruction of centres for disabled children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Japanese government in the past has supported IOM’s humanitarian and recovery activities including the delivery of immediate live saving relief, community stabilization and early recovery activities, as well as emergency return and reintegration assistance for migrants caught in crises.

For more information, please contact

Yuko Goto

IOM Tokyo

Tel: + 81 3 3595 0108

Email: iomtokyo@iom.int