Conflicts and disasters keep occurring around the world, and the number of people in need of help keeps growing. Good Neighbors Japan is an international NGO that provides emergency humanitarian aid and development assistance in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere.
At Global Festa Japan 2026, held in October 2026, the NGO network Japan editorial team spoke with Mr. Koji Jitsukawa, Manager of Africa Section 2 in the Overseas Programs Department. With prices rising and security worsening on the ground, what drives the team to keep delivering aid? Here are voices from the field.
A refugee crisis with no end in sight, and aid that cannot keep up
Good Neighbors Japan centers its work on emergency humanitarian aid and development projects overseas, across regions including Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The number of refugees is rising steadily worldwide and has become a major issue for the international community. Mr. Jitsukawa described the pressing situation facing aid workers:
“The number of refugees is growing and aid is badly needed, but aid is not keeping up. That is the problem.”
Support to sustain the lives of people who have fled conflict and persecution is urgent, yet resources fall short of expanding needs.
How rising prices and worsening security hit projects
Work in the field is never easy. Mr. Jitsukawa named local social and economic conditions as the biggest difficulty.
“Security is far from good, prices are rising, and the cost of relief supplies goes up. In that situation, keeping projects running is hard.”
Global inflation weighs heavily on developing countries and conflict zones too. Prices rise locally as well, and delivering supplies as planned and running projects within limited budgets takes great effort and ingenuity from staff in the field.
Results found amid difficulty
Even while facing many walls, steady work that stays close to local people is producing results. Through food aid, education support and more, Good Neighbors Japan works to improve people’s lives.
“We are also seeing results such as better learning outcomes and improved food and nutrition,” Mr. Jitsukawa stressed, noting that aid is bringing direct change to people’s lives. Getting enough nutrition and the chance to learn are the first steps toward building children’s futures.
What we can do in Japan: “World peace is Japan’s peace”
Faced with the problems of developing countries and refugees, what can we in Japan do? Mr. Jitsukawa offered a strong message about how we keep these issues in mind day to day.
“I hope people will keep an interest in these issues every day. Japan is a country that exists through many kinds of interdependence, so I hope people will live their daily lives always aware that Japan cannot be at peace unless the world is at peace.”
Rather than treating them as events in faraway countries, we should see that in a globalized age the stability of other countries is directly tied to Japan’s own. That may be the first “support” we can give.
Ready to reach emergencies as quickly as possible
Finally, we asked about its outlook. Good Neighbors Japan plans to keep supporting the countries it now works in. Responding quickly to natural disasters is also an important mission.
“This time there were landslides in Venezuela and in Nepal, but we never know when or what kind of emergency or disaster will strike, so when a disaster happens I want to deliver aid as quickly as possible.”
Good Neighbors Japan keeps itself ready to deliver aid whenever and wherever a crisis occurs. Taking an interest in its work and cheering it on ultimately connects to peace in the world we live in.
About the organization: Good Neighbors Japan
You can read an overview of Good Neighbors Japan in our NGO profile.
Read the NGO profile of Good Neighbors Japan → / Official website: https://www.gnjp.org/
Interview information
Interview: NGO network Japan editorial team / Event: Global Festa Japan 2026 (booth no. 60) / Date: October 2026