Japan hands over wheel loaders for 8 local municipalities

AMMAN — The Japanese government, in partnership with Ministry of Municipal Affairs, on Tuesday handed over eight wheel loaders to local municipalities as part of Japan’s emergency grant aid.

Japan’s Ambassador to Jordan Junichi Kosuge, Municipal Affairs Ministry Secretary General Waleed Al Otoum, and other government officials attended the handing-over ceremony, which took place in the Zarqa Free Zone, according to a Japanese embassy statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times. 

Last year, the government of Japan decided to extend $60 million as emergency grant aid to Jordan, with around $10 million of the total to be used for the purchase of various pieces of equipment and machinery needed by local municipalities to reduce the burden of refugee host communities, the statement said.

The eight wheel loaders will be distributed to eight municipalities: Petra, Karak, Ayy, Moaab, Talal, Shehan, Iel and Al Ashari. 

This consignment raises to 16 the total number of loaders Japan has provided to local municipalities. At the end of August, eight were given to the Wastiyyah, Um Al Rasas, Mutah and Mazar, Al Sultani, Bab Amman, Central Shuneh, Qatar and Rahma, and Taybeh municipalities, according to the Japanese embassy. 

“I strongly hope that the project would help to mitigate problems which many host communities face such as garbage collection, water supply and sludge treatment,” the Japanese ambassador said in a speech delivered at the ceremony.

This year, the government of Japan has extended approximately $160 million worth of bilateral support to Jordan, as well as $19 million through UN and international organisations in Jordan as part of its assistance to relief efforts for Syrian refugees, the statement said.