Ammon News - Jordan Times - The Japanese embassy in Jordan and the Planning Ministry on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding under which Japan is to provide an emergency grant of $10.2 million to the Kingdom.

The $10.2 million is part of a recently announced emergency aid grant of $60 million for relief efforts in Syria and the region, an embassy statement said.

Jordan’s share of the grant will be used for the purchase of municipal equipment needed to improve water supply, wastewater management and solid waste management in the targeted governorates, to “reduce the burdens shouldered by the Syrian refugee host communities”.

As for UN activities in Jordan, $2.4 million was allocated for UNHCR Jordan, $1.6 million for WFP Jordan, and $1 million for UNICEF, the statement said.

Planning Minister Ibrahim Saif and Japanese Ambassador to Jordan Junichi Kosuge signed the memo.

Thanking Japan for its constant support for the Kingdom, Saif said the grant will be utilised in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

“I hope this grant will be used promptly and effectively to mitigate the impact of Syrian refugees on host communities and ease their increasing burdens,” the statement quoted Kosuge as saying.

“Understanding the impact of the large influx of Syrian refugees on Jordan’s economy and in appreciation” of its efforts to serve the Syrian refugees despite its limited resources, the Japanese government extended two soft loans to the Kingdom in 2012 and 2013 at a total value of $240 million, the embassy statement said.