JICA participates in the project to provide assistance to Afghanistan, making use of the experience that it gained in providing assistance to East Timor for infrastructure restoration in 1999. JICA has established the Afghanistan Division in its headquarters (in Tokyo) and sends resident representative to Kabul in late July. As of July, 2002, JICA provides assistance in the following fields.
1. Health and Medical Care
1. The Urgent Rehabilitation Support Programme in Afghanistan
JICA sent a study team to Kabul in April. The team takes measures mainly to (A) restore the "Tuberculosis Institute", which was build with the aid of Japan about 20 years ago and later destroyed, (B) repair wells at medical clinic offices, and (C) design an assistance plan in the health and medical field.
2. Dispatching Experts
JICA dispatched experts in both the medical field and the anti-tuberculosis field in the middle of May. These experts have provided advice there and ascertained the need for assistance in the health and medical field.
3. Technical Training in Japan
JICA accepts trainees from Afghanistan in the anti-tuberculosis fields in July.
2. Education
1. The Urgent Rehabilitation Support Programme in Afghanistan
JICA sent a study team to Kabul in April. The team takes measures mainly to (A) restore elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools (six schools in total including a girl's school) in Kabul and (B)design an assistance plan in the education field.
2. Dispatching Experts
JICA sent two experts in the education field in the middle of May. These experts have provided advice to the Ministry of Education and ascertained the need for assistance in the field of education.
3. Technical Training in Japan
JICA will invite female teachers for training to Japanese universities.
3. Media Infrastructure
1. The Urgent Rehabilitation Support Programme in Afghanistan
JICA sent a study team to Kabul in April and provides assistance for nation-wide broadcasting of the "Emergency Loya Jirga (National Assembly)" that was held in June.
2. Technical Training in Japan
JICA accepts two persons from Radio Television Afghanistan as trainees in July.
4. Assistance for Women/Gender-Related Assistance
JICA sent Ms. Yumiko Tanaka, a Senior Advisor in the field of gender and development, to Afghanistan in the middle of May. She ascertained the need for assistance in this field.
5. Other Fields
1. The Urgent Rehabilitation Support Programme in Afghanistan
In order to recover the city of Kabul, JICA will design plans for (A) restoring the public transport system and (B) reconstruction in the south west part of Kabul, the heavily damaged area.
2. Providing Grant Aid
JICA will plan specific assistance measures that will be effective in reducing poverty and restoring the society in Afghanistan, mainly in the fields of education, health/medical care, water supply, the media and public transportation.
3. Emergency Assistance for Earthquake Damage in North Afghanistan
From the night of March 25 to the early morning of 26, 2002, there were earthquakes in Nahrin, Baghalan, 180 km north of Kabul. JICA provided emergency assistance materials such as tents and blankets. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and JICA sent five officers in total to the disaster area. They investigated the damage and adjusted cooperation with Japanese NGOs.