The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) signed a $7.36 million agreement today (Monday) with the Embassy of Japan in Kabul.
This project aims to provide essential livelihood, health, and reconstruction services to over 100,000 people in Kabul and Herat.
Kazuko Ishigaki, the Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at UN-Habitat, said about the project: “The new project we are signing today will improve access to basic services and livelihoods for the urban needy. This project will benefit more than 100,000 people through the reconstruction, strengthening, or building of key community infrastructure across 38 locations in Kabul and Herat provinces, including earthquake-affected areas in Herat.”
Ishigaki also mentioned that the humanitarian and economic conditions caused by three decades of conflict in Afghanistan have increased the vulnerability of needy individuals to natural disasters. According to her, earthquake-affected areas in Herat are also part of this project.
She said: “Afghanistan is currently facing an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis. The economic crisis resulting from over three decades of conflict, along with environmental degradation and low infrastructure investment, has increased the vulnerability of urban poor to sudden shocks, including natural disasters.”
The Japanese ambassador to Afghanistan, Takayoshi Kuromiya, pledged Japan’s continued support for the country during the event.
The Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan said: “Fostering resilience, sustaining livelihoods, safeguarding human rights, and upholding development gains are crucial for Afghanistan today. Through our partnership with UN-Habitat, Japan remains committed to standing and delivering for the people of Afghanistan.”
This comes as the World Food Programme (WFP) previously reported that from May to October of this year, 12.4 million Afghans will face severe food insecurity.