TEHRAN –Japan’s contribution to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iran boosts the country’s policies that allow Afghan refugees access to education and healthcare services.

Japan has been a leading supporter of UNHCR’s activities in the country for over a decade, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare for refugees, the UNHCR website announced in a press release on July 10.

The Government of Japan continues supporting UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, through its Supplementary Budget, and Partnership Grant Aid amounting to over US 4 million dollars, which helps Afghan refugees access health care in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This generous funding will allow UNHCR to enhance access to quality education and healthcare services for Afghan refugees through Iran’s national educational and healthcare systems.

This new funding reaffirms Japan’s continued commitment to ensuring accessible and affordable health services for the most vulnerable Afghan refugees in Iran.

It will also support the construction of public schools benefitting both Afghans and Iranians alike.

Building on its long-standing partnership, Japan also provided critical support of USD 1.2 million to UNHCR’s programs for Afghan refugees in Iran last year, which helped strengthen the national health care system and services for refugees.

“We are profoundly grateful to the people and Government of Japan for this vital support towards Afghan refugees in Iran,” said Yumiko Takashima, UNHCR Representative in Iran.

“This contribution will help UNHCR maintain critical health interventions and preserve Iran’s inclusive policies that allow refugees to access national health services.”

H.E. Tamaki Tsukada, Ambassador of Japan to Iran, reiterated Japan’s commitment, saying, “As a responsible international actor, Japan prioritizes responsibility-sharing to ease the burden on host communities. Through partnerships like this with UNHCR, we aim to fulfill our global duties by supporting refugees and host communities across Iran.” 

Iran hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations, with an estimated 3.8 million Afghan refugees and those in refugee-like situations who have access to national services under Iran’s inclusive policies.

This timely contribution from Japan will help UNHCR sustain critical health interventions for Afghan refugees in Iran amid increasing economic pressures on the host country. It builds on Japan’s long-standing collaboration with UNHCR in Iran, focused on delivering essential services.

Education, healthcare for refugees

 In February, in a bid to provide Afghan refugees and host communities in Iran with quality education and healthcare services, the Government of Japan and the UNHCR signed a partnership agreement.

This contribution, worth $3.3 million, is built on a long-term collaboration between the Government of Japan and UNHCR Iran, mainly in the areas of health, education, and livelihood, the UNHCR website announced in a press release on February 27.

This helped in delivering essential services, promoting inclusion, and empowering displaced Afghans struggling to rebuild their lives in exile.

“We are profoundly grateful to the people of Japan for their long-standing generosity,” said Takashima.

“This critical funding is a testament to their global leadership on refugee issues and matches 2023 Global Refugee Forum’s spirit, where Japan’s government and civil society just renewed their pledges.”

The three-year project includes the construction of new schools which will serve refugee and host community children alike.

This will enhance quality primary and secondary education, helping to nurture youth’s talents and ambitions for the future, in line with the Iranian government’s inclusive education policy allowing foreign nationals to enroll in public schools.

The Government of Japan's contribution will also cover the health insurance costs for 21,700 vulnerable Afghan refugees, enabling them to access secondary and tertiary medical care.

“Refugees are an important global concern. Japan, as a responsible international actor, plays its role in alleviating the host community’s burden,” said Tamaki.

“We believe the best outcome can be achieved through collaboration with international partners like UNHCR. With this grant we want to meet our responsibility sharing to support refugees and their host communities across Iran,” he added.

For over 40 years, UNHCR has assisted the Government of Iran in hosting one of the world’s largest and most protracted refugee situations. Iran continues to set a progressive example through its inclusive national policies, especially on health, education, and social services accessible also by refugees.

MT/MG