PHNOM PENH: The Japanese Government has announced to provide more AstraZeneca vaccine to Cambodia. The donation will be delivered to the kingdom through the Covax mechanism. This was announced by the Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Mikami Masahiro on Thursday affirming Japan’s commitment to continue supporting and cooperating with Cambodia.

Approximately 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be donated by the Government of Japan to Cambodia. This is in addition to the one million doses already been delivered through the Covax mechanism.

According to the Japanese Ambassador Mikami Masahiro, this decision was made in light of the friendship between Japan and Cambodia. The vaccines which Japan produced itself will be delivered in the capital on Sunday.

The Japanese Ambassador has expressed his hope that these vaccines will contribute to further steps towards social and economic recovery as well as helping relieve the anxiety of the Cambodian people. He has added that the Japanese government has provided a total of more than $60 million worth of assistance to Cambodia. It includes the donation of medical equipment; the renovation of hospitals; support, through international organisations, for infection prevention measures at the border; and the provision of equipment to properly transport and store vaccines.

Accordingly, Japan has also provided a loan of approximately $227 million which is being used to provide financial support to people affected by COVID-19 and to strengthen provision within the healthcare system.