The Japanese government decided on Friday to disburse 8.8 billion yen ($75.3 million) from fiscal 2021 reserve funds for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine following its invasion by Russia since late last month.
Japan will offer the assistance to relevant international organizations including the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and help fund the activities of Japanese nongovernmental organizations helping Ukraine, the Finance Ministry said.
The amount is part of the emergency humanitarian aid worth $100 million that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged last month.
On Friday, the top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, told a press conference that the aid would include food, water and shelter for affected people in Ukraine and those fleeing to neighboring countries.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered a third week without progress in talks between the countries on a cease-fire deal.
The conflict has resulted in civilian casualties and led to an exodus of more than 2 million refugees, according to the U.N. refugee agency.
Earlier in the week, Japan granted short-term residency for 90 days to eight displaced Ukrainian nationals who have relatives or acquaintances in the country.
© KYODO
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kurisupisu
And how many Japanese are offering to receive refugees?
And the government in Japan embarrasses itself by its failed response!
zichi
Probably most Ukrainians would stay in Europe so they can return home quicker.
Jim
I hope that Ukrainians do realize that becoming a refugee in Europe is a far far better option than to come to Japan and try to rebuild their life. The language, culture, working style, attitude and behavior will make fitting into the Japanese society way too difficult for many!
Michael Machida
Japan has welcomed eight Ukrainians due to Putins War. If this wasn't so pathetic, I would value Japan sending cash. However, I don't. Sometimes it's about more than money.
OssanAmerica
Some 17,000 Eastern European Jews lived in the Japanese Empireduring WWII. Additionally an estimated 24000 Jews escaped the Holocaust either by immigrating through Japan or living under direct Japanese rule. When you are a refugee you go where you can that is safe. Today Japan is far more westernized than it was 80 years ago.
Fighto!
So many negative, fear-mongering posts. Japan and many other nations in the free world are offering safe refuge to these poor people displaced by invading, fascist Russia - not mass immigration.
Japan has stated they are prioritizng those Ukrainian refugees who have family connections - Japanese and Ukrainian - resident in Japan.
Millions of European refugees sought refuge after WW2 in nations completely foreign to them in terms of culture, language and customs. Mamy spoke not a single word of their new nations language. The vast majority of them settled and succeeded brilliantly.
FizzBit
I hope it goes where it’s needed but I think the Ukrainian Oli’s will pull a Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue and take the money and run.
kurisupisu
Having spent a lot of time in Kobe I can say that many foreigners from Jews to Indians have made Kobe, Japan more than a passable home.
Japan needs to open up more but from the large number of downvotes and there are many on the JT forum, it seems past realities mean little today…
Meiyouwenti
There's nothing wrong with helping Ukrainian refugees but the 8.8 billion yen could have been better spent to improve the lives of single mothers and other underprevileged people living here. Just send the bill to Putin.
Fighto!
Wisely stated by OssanAmerica.
Not to mention the Koreans, Chinese, Malays, Thais, Dutch, Europeans, Russians, Indonesians, Burmese and many, many other cultures who lived side by side in the Japanese Empire.
It's not as if Japan does not know how to live with different cultures. Quite the contrary.
The Ukrainians will be very welcome.
zichi
Since living here the number of foreigners has doubled, but still a very tiny percentage of the total population. Agree with kurisupisu Kobe is one of the better cities for foreigners.
smithinjapan
Throw money at it, as always. While such assistance is useful, how about accepting more than EIGHT people on what is tantamount to a tourist visa, and then an uncertain and scary future. Japan will eventually send them back, war zone or not. So, why not guarantee hundreds instant refugee status? Show some TRUE humanitarian spirit.
Tokyo-m
Meanwhile, Japan Tobacco and Bridgestone are still operating in Russia, still paying tax to the war-criminal Putin and helping to prop up his regime.
snowymountainhell
What!? Japan sending aid is fine but not taking in more of a share to refugees is acceptable? - Seems some expat ‘gatekeepers’ here are really pushing an agenda for Ukraine’s refugees to keep ‘closer to home’? Why?
Us but not ‘them’? Seems just days ago, they were also creating unreasonable fears in that ‘with so many now fleeing Ukraine, the rest of Europe & Western nations needed to be vigilant that there will be many Russian ‘trained-killers & terrorist insurgents’ moving amongst them, perhaps trying to trickle in the other countries. -
Seems like overblown, ridiculous, xenophobic hate of ‘other’ foreigners that should be given the same opportunities in Japan we were all given.
kokontozai
Japan is truly a kind country to foreign countries. I wonder how many tens of billions of yen, including private donations, will eventually go to Ukraine?
zichi
Has for Ukrainian refugees coming to Japan is entirely up to the citizens and the government. Foreigners have no say in the matter.
Having listened to the stories of many of the evacuating Ukrainians all were trying to get to countries like Poland, Germany, the Baltic states, the UK where they have relatives and friends. The majority are women and children since the men are remaining behind to defend their country.
Why would women and children want to evacuate to Japan leaving their men behind?
Checking people's documentation at borders is happening to discover any Russians. Even happening inside Ukraine with evacuating peoples fleeing from their cities.
An estimated 2.5 million have left the country. Another 2 million were displaced inside the country.
The largest section of foreigners or non-Japanese is Koreans and Chinese born here.
Japan has a poor record for asylum.
marcelito
Wisely stated by OssanAmerica.
Not to mention the Koreans, Chinese, Malays, Thais, Dutch, Europeans, Russians, Indonesians, Burmese and many, many other cultures who lived side by side in the Japanese Empire.
Brilliant....people in countries that were occupied by Japan during WW2 and pow,s are being used as an example of " harmonious living " and a proof of Japan,s ability to co-exist with other cultures. Wow, now I,ve heard it all.
Thomas Goodtime
@marcelito
Well said. Japan was once a bully and now offers these pathetic financial packages. No doubt expecting a pat on the back.
A few nights ago, the news anchor reported that Japan will accept 8 Ukrainians into the country. And said it with a straight face. Laughable.
dagon
Japan granted short-term residency for 90 days
A Tourist visa?
Give it up LDP. Your attempt at intentional humanitarian virtue signaling is a failure to anyone who reads past the headline.
TokyoLiving
It is better for Japan to help other countries with economic aid than to invite thousands of refugees..
Sorry, this is not Canada..
TokyoLiving
Negative votes como te meeeee..
TokyoLiving
*come Lol..
Aly Rustom
Unfortunately
tokyobakayaro
Canada size: 9,984,670 km2
Japan size: 378,000 km²
Canada population: 38 million
Japan population: 126 million
I am wondering which country is the most suitable to host lot of people.
snowymountainhell
A myopic idea of the situation: “Why would women leave…” ? - Not every woman in Ukraine has ‘a man’. This woman has an aunt, mother & sister that she and her Japanese husband are desperately trying to bring here to Japan:
Mar. 8 - https://japantoday.com/category/national/ukraine-born-woman-in-japan-awaits-reunion-with-family