The Embassy of Japan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have distributed today in Sana’a the clothes donated by Japanese citizens to Yemeni families in need. Over 200,000 clothes arriving from Japan through UNIQLO, a famed Japanese garment retailer, are to be distributed to over 63,000 individuals in Yemen, in collaboration with the Yemeni Government and UNHCR.
The distribution will target internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host community citizens in various districts in the Governorates of Hajja, Amran, Aden and Sana’a.
“I would like to emphasis that these clothes are token of friendship and support to Yemeni friends exhibited by Japanese citizens inspired by the humanitarian cause. UNIQLO customers showed their readiness to contribute in response to UNIQLO’s call for helping the most vulnerable, such as IDPs and refugees. I hope these clothes will give little comfort to people in need in Yemen” said the Japanese Ambassador to Yemen H.E. Mr. Katsuyoshi Hayashi during the distribution ceremony that took place today at the IDP Community Centre run by UNHCR’s partner ADRA.
UNHCR Representative in Yemen, Johannes Van Der Klaauw valued the support provided by the Japanese Government to alleviate the suffering of some of the most vulnerable people in Yemen. “This distribution of clothes comes at a time when we are seeing new waves of displacement as a result of ongoing violence, notably in Amran. It is situations such as these that show the importance of this type of humanitarian assistance”, said van der Klaauw. He added: “It is time to find durable solutions for these IDPs to help them start their lives anew. Resolving the protracted IDP situation in Yemen constitutes an important element of stability in the country.”
During his visit to Yemen in January 2014, the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, H.E. Mr. Takao Makino to Yemen, the Embassy of Japan and UNHCR marked the kick-off of the humanitarian initiative by UNIQLO to donate clothes to Yemeni families in need.
UNHCR has responded to the needs of over 200,000 individuals from Abyan who recently returned home. Currently, UNHCR and humanitarian partners are redoubling efforts to realize solutions for more than 300,000 IDPs, who live in a protracted situation in the north of the country.
Being among top donors to Yemen, the Japanese Government granted 16 million US dollars to UNHCR Yemen for IDP/returnee and refugee activities in the country, out of its total contribution of 118.5 million US dollars since 2012 to support humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Yemen,
UNHCR is the lead international agency responding to protection and shelter needs of Yemenis that have been internally displaced. UNHCR also addresses the needs of over 240,000 refugees in Yemen the majority of whom have arrived from the Horn of Africa as part of mixed migratory movements, in addition to refugees from Iraq and Syria.