Japan’s foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, told a press conference on 9 February that his country is set to provide a further US$18.5 million (~JPY2.1 billion) to the people of Myanmar in the form of emergency food aid and other humanitarian assistance, reports DVB.

Emergency aid will be sent to Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan states and parts of Yangon via international organizations with the goal of protecting the lives of women, children, and internally displaced people (IDPs) and to protect citizens against the coronavirus.

The foreign minister noted that Myanmar's economy had come to a standstill since the coup.

Japan continues to engage with the military junta and has continued with its projects in Myanmar under the junta.