JAPAN ANNOUNCED USD 12.6 MILLION TO THE

UNCLAS TOKYO 001152 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EMBASSY TEL AVIV: PLEASE PASS TO AID/HOWARD SUMKA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID JA IS EAGR KWBG JO ENRG SUBJECT: JAPAN ANNOUNCED USD 12.6 MILLION TO THE PALESTINIANS. REF: TOKYO 01005 ¶1. (U) At the March 14-15 visit of Cabinet-level officials from Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (reftel), Foreign Minister Aso announced additional assistance to the Palestinians. Although the two-day meeting focused on "confidence building" and the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity Initiative", FM Aso announced USD 12.6 million of grant assistance to the Palestinians. This assistance includes USD 7.2 million of humanitarian assistance which earlier had been announced on March 2. These funds will be directed through the multilateral organizations with UNDP targeting the agricultural sector, UNRWA providing medical assistance, and UNFPA targeting maternal and child health. ¶2. (U) New funds totaling USD 4.4 million will include Yen 500 million to be directed through UNRWA for food assistance, and Yen 100 million directed through FAO targeting assistance to farmers in poverty. MOFA Second Assistance Planning Division Deputy Director Usui told AID Counselor these two programs of USD 4.4 million will be officially announced through UNRWA and FAO on March 18 and 19 respectively. ¶3. (U) Additional details concerning the confidence building meetings and the Corridor of Peace and Prosperity Initiative will be reported septel. SCHIEFFER