Masamoto Kenichi, Japan’s ambassador in Kabul, says that Japan’s latest aid is aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted supply of oral polio vaccines for routine child immunizations as well as national campaigns across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, Japan and UNICEF signed an agreement to ensure the uninterrupted supply of oral polio vaccines for routine immunizations and national campaigns across 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
Masamoto Kenichi said, “My country has allocated over 6.26 million dollars from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for this campaign, which will be implemented by UNICEF starting this month. The goal is to ensure that every child in Afghanistan can access oral polio vaccines without interruption, both through routine programs and national campaigns.”
Officials from UNICEF add that with this support, more than 17 million children under the age of five will receive polio vaccinations.
Andrea James, UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Afghanistan, said,
“Today, the Government of Japan signed this agreement with us. With their support, over 17 million children under five will receive vaccinations. This is a big step forward in the fight against polio.”
Officials from JICA, who were also present at the signing, noted that under the agreement, the agency will continue working with UNICEF to strengthen routine immunizations and ensure fair access to high-quality vaccines for all children.
Sota Tosaka, Chief Representative of JICA in Afghanistan, said,
“Eradicating polio in Afghanistan is within reach, and I sincerely hope this new initiative will help achieve this milestone and improve the well-being of all Afghans.”
It is worth mentioning that Japan has announced around 20 million dollars in aid to Afghanistan in 2026, which will be allocated across various sectors.
Reporter: Haidar Mohammad Nazari
