As part of support for peacebuilding efforts in Sudan, the Japanese Government donated 60 water purifiers to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on 6 November, in Juba.

“Peace is a basic condition for promoting development,” which the Japanese Government supported through financial assistance and in-kind contributions, said Ambassador Mr. Yuichi Ishii at the hand-over ceremony.

In an effort to counteract rapid deterioration of water and sanitary conditions, the Japanese Government’s International Peace Cooperation Headquarters provided water purifiers for hospitals and health units in Southern Sudan, in cooperation with the UNHCR and the Government of Southern Sudan’s Ministry of Health.

The portable purifiers, which filter clean drinking water from raw river or stream water, produce 24 liters of water per hour, helping meet the need for safe water in the area.

“After four years of prevailing peace in Southern Sudan, many Sudanese do not enjoy even the basic socio-economic services, the rate of unemployment is high, food security is tenuous and the average per capita income is assessed to be less that $1 per day,” said Noriko Yoshida, UNHCR Deputy Representative in Southern Sudan.

She explained that the primary objective of UNHCR was the sustainable return of refugees to their homes. Since the beginning of 2005, over 140,000 Sudanese refugees had been assisted to return home and the next repatriation would start in mid November, said Ms. Yoshida.

In addition, UNHCR was engaged in reintegration activities and implementing community-based projects in the field of health, water, sanitation, education and livelihoods.

Japan had so far assisted peacekeeping efforts in Sudan with nearly $280 million through international organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, UNHCR, non-governmental organizations and other bilateral channels, said Mr. Ishii.

The hand-over ceremony was attended by representatives of the Government of Southern Sudan’s Ministry of Health, Southern Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, the Government of Japan International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, the ambassador of Japan and UNHCR senior officials.