THE Japanese government has provided nearly US$120,000 under its grassroots grant assistance scheme for two humanitarian assistance projects in Kayah State.

According to a statement released on July 13 by the Japanese embassy in Yangon, a total of $116,107 will go towards a project to provide water supply facilities and toilets at schools in Loikaw, and towards the purchase of medical equipment for clinics in Ho Se and Loi Nan Hpa.

Mr Tetsuro Amano, the minister-counselor and deputy chief of mission at the Japanese embassy, signed the grant contract on July 13 with U Maw Lay and U Lorenz Soe, the chairmen of the respective projects.

The first project will involve providing water supply facilities and 93 toilets to four high schools and one middle school in Loikaw, the press release said. It also said the new facilities would help promote a hygienic environment for children studying at the schools.

“It will solve the financial constraints of the residents in Loikaw in their endeavor to repair the schools by themselves,” said the press release.

For the second project, health clinics in Ho Se and Loi Nan Hpa will receive 66 patient beds, oxygen concentrators, suction machines, autoclaves, microscopes and other medical equipment.