Japan Grants 23.6 m. dollars in aid to Palestinians

Japan said yesterday it had donated 23.6 million U.S dollars in aid to the Palestinian Authority inside self-rule areas and in neighboring countries to ease their hardship following set-backs in progress towards Middle East peace.

A statement, issued by the Japanese embassy in Cairo, said 12.6 million US dollars of the donated sum would go to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Al Ahrar daily reported today.

"Given that situation in the Palestinian self-rule area has worsened as a result of continued closures while the Middle East peace process faces difficulties, the government of Japan has decided to extend assistance for the improvement of living standards for the Palestinians and the refugees," the statement said.