Ceremony to Launch Reconstruction Support Project for Conflict-Affected People in Southeast Myanmar

Date & time: March 2, 2016 (Wednesday); 13:00 – 15:00 (Myanmar local time)
Location: Kayin State Hall (Hpa-an, Kayin State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar)

The Nippon Foundation has been working with the Government of Myanmar, armed ethnic groups in Myanmar, and the Government of Japan since 2012 to achieve peace in Myanmar, by promoting confidence building and dialog between the Government of Myanmar and armed ethnic groups, and by distributing approximately ¥2 billion of food and other humanitarian assistance to the country’s roughly 500,000 conflict-affected people.

Our track record in providing this assistance has led to requests for additional assistance from the governments of Myanmar and Kayin State, the armed ethnic group Karen National Union (KNU), and the Karen Peace Council. In response, The Nippon Foundation will use funds provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for a reconstruction support project commencing March 1, 2016, to build houses, schools, and other facilities for conflicted-affected people in areas controlled or influenced by the KNU and KPC. The project has been agreed to and will receive cooperation from the Myanmar government and the armed ethnic groups, and will be the region’s largest reconstruction support project and the first to use Japanese government funds.

To mark the project’s commencement, a launch ceremony attended by U Aung Min, Minister for the President’s Office and the government’s lead peace negotiator, KNU Chairman General Saw Mutu Sae Poe, and other related parties, and scheduled to include a joint declaration, is planned as per below.

1. Overview of Reconstruction Support Project

Region covered Areas controlled or influenced by the KNU/KPC (Kayin State, Mon State, Tanintharyi Region)
Project details (planned construction)
  • Houses – 1,250
  • Schools – 7
  • Health clinics – 3
  • Health care centers – 1
  • Bridges – 1
  • Wells – 5
Total cost Approximately 1.08 billion yen

2. Ceremony

Date & time: March 2, 2016 (Wednesday); 13:00 – 15:00
(Myanmar local time)
Location: Kayin State Hall (Hpa-an, Kayin State, Myanmar)

Contact

Communications Department
The Nippon Foundation

E-mail
cc@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp