(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Japan donated $6.8 million to Lebanon’s education and health ministries on Wednesday, according to a release by Education Minister Elias Bou Saab.
“I am pleased to announce the signing of a coordination agreement between Lebanese and Japanese government representative in Crown Agents for a 800 million yen ($6.8 million) contract, divided between the health and education ministries,” Bou Saab said.
The money will be split between both ministries, including $4 million that will go to the Health Ministry, and $2 million to the Education Ministry.
Bou Saab said the funds will be used to equip 160 public schools with generators, bathrooms, and desks and chairs for both Lebanese and Syrian students.
He says the donation will also provide enough fuel for an entire year, which will be used for public school generators.
The Japanese-Lebanese bilateral relationship was established in 1954 after an Embassy of Japan was established in Beirut.
“(Lebanon) was placed as the strategic country for the Japanese foreign trade and commercial activities in the Middle East,” said Japan’s Ambassador to Lebanon Seiichi Otsuka.
The donation was announced during a signing ceremony attended by the education minister, representatives from the Ministry of Health, and Ambassador Otsuka.
The Health Ministry has yet to announce how it will use the donation funds.