CAIRO, Jan 17, 2015 (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged Saturday $2.5 billion in non-military aid for the Middle East as he launched a regional tour that includes visits to Jordan and Israel.
In a speech in Cairo, Abe also pledged $200 million in non-military assistance for states affected by the Islamic State group's bloody expansion in Iraq and Syria, which triggered an exodus of refugees to neighbouring countries.