The Japanese government offered communities that are hosting Syrian refugees in Lebanon a $2 million emergency grant as part of a U.N. aid program. The grant seeks to increase stability and improve the conditions of Syrian refugees and their host communities in Lebanon, who are struggling to cope with the burdens posed by the large influx of refugees, a statement issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Friday. The grant does not go directly to the Lebanese government, but instead to UNHCR and the United Nations Development Program. The Japanese Ambassador to Lebanon, Seiichi Otsuka, said "the emergency grant to the UNHCR and UNDP will not only provide the most vulnerable people with necessary protection and support, but also stimulate the local economy by enhancing the capacity of host communities and increasing income generating opportunities." He revealed that his country will continue to offer "its support towards countries affected by the humanitarian crisis" imposed by the conflict in Syria. Lebanon's Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas expressed gratitude for the contribution. "We hope this donation will pave the way for other partners to further develop the efforts undertaken by the ministry in support of the local host communities," Derbas said. UNHCR's representative in Lebanon Mireille Girard lamented the ongoing conflict in Syria, saying: "both Lebanese and Syrians have suffered unimaginable loss and tragedy over the past years as a result of this ceaseless crisis." According to the UNHCR statement, the Japanese government has provided over $40 million to agencies in Lebanon since 2013 to help the country cope with the refugee crisis. Lebanon hosts more than 1 million Syrian refugees who mostly live in makeshift camps on the eastern and northern borders, according to U.N. figures.
