RELIEF AID TO TSUNAMI DISASTER BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
BY ANTHONY M. LEE
When the
Government of Japan promised to provide $500
million in aid they led all donors early in the aftermath of the
December 2004 earthquake. This earthquake
took place off the coast of Sumatra
and caused a tsunami that devastated many countries in the Indian
Ocean. Half of the $500
million will be grants to Indonesia,
Sri Lanka,
and Maldives. The other half will be provided to
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in support of their disaster relief
efforts
in the region. Days after the disaster
the tripartite group of Japan,
United States,
and Australia
worked together to coordinate an assistance program to assist countries
devastated by the tsunami disaster. It
was only later that Japan’s
Government leading donation was outdone by Australia’s
$764 million aid package.
(http://www.japantoday.com/e/tools/print.asp?content=comment&id=7006)
(http://www.japantoday.com/e/tools/print.asp?content=news&id=323475)
Japanese
government and industrial leaders were observed
communicating and making decisions that would help the victims the
most, and by
setting such a positive role they motivated other leaders to take note
of the
situation. The Japanese Emperor
addressed the UN World Congress on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) held 18-22
January
in Kobe, Japan. Also present at the WCDR were the Japanese
Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and Mr. Yoshitaka Murata (Head of the
Japanese
Delegation of State for Disaster Management). Mr.
Nobutaka Mchimura joined Mr. Koizumi as he addressed
the Special
ASEAN Leaders Meeting on 06-January-2005
in Jakarta, Indonesia. Mr. Koisumi visited Indonesia
and Thailand. Mr. Shuzen Tanigaura spoke at the United
Nation (UN) ministerial meeting on humanitarian assistance to tsunami
affected
countries, in Geneva on 11-January-2005.
(http://www.mofa.go/jp/announce/region/asia-paci/asean/pmv0501/declaration.html)
(http://www.mofa.go/jp/announce/policy/un/conf0501/address-3.html)
(http://www.mofa.go/jp/announce/policy/un/conf0501/html)
The Japanese
Government, Industrial Leaders, and Citizens
took their part seriously and really showed the World “by example” what
the
devastated region needed to recover. Japanese
three large auto makers contributed 580 million yen with the majority
going to
Red Cross societies and some to their own subsidiaries in the disaster
region. More than 100 Japanese fans of
the South Korean actor Bae Young donated 300 million won to disaster
victims. Japan’s
government’s donations to NGOs ($250 million) equaled what it had given
in
unilateral grants. Fifteen NGOs received
the donations – the three largest
recipients were the United Nations Children’s Fund ($70 million), the
World
Food Program ($60 million), and the International Organization for
Migration
($25 million).
(http://www.japantoday.com/e/tools/print.asp?content=news&id=324031)
(http://www.japantoday.com/e/tools/print.asp?content=news&id=323891)
(http://www.mofa.go/jp/announce/2005/1/0111.html)
Japan
provided disaster relief in three ways: financial resources, knowledge
and
expertise, and human resources. Financially
Japan
provided unilateral grants, donations to NGOs, and purchased emergency
supplies/equipment (blankets, food, water, medicine, water purifiers,
generators, etc.). Japan
joined in international research efforts to apply knowledge and
expertise to
mitigate such devastation as much as possible. Japanese
relief teams were sent primarily to Maldives,
Indonesia,
Sri Lanka,
and Thailand. Japan
dispatched Self-Defense Forces and Disaster Relief Teams throughout the
devastated areas around the Indian Ocean. Japanese Self-Defense Forces equipment used
in the region includes destroyers, supply ships, military
cargo-airplanes, and
helicopters. Disaster relief teams
provided search and rescue, medical assistance, emergency teams,
logistical
teams, DNA identification teams, medical teams specializing in
infectious
diseases, a Japan International Cooperation Agency team, public hygiene
teams,
and Disaster Relief teams.
(http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/pressrelease/2005/011005.htm)
(http://www.mofa.go/jp/announce/2005/1/0104.html)
Even before the
devastating earthquake/tsunami Japan
was taking the lead in helping the World mitigate the devastating
effects of
disasters such as the recent World Congress on Disaster Reduction
(WCDR) held
in Kobe around the 10th anniversary of
Kobe’s
terrible earthquake. The Japanese are
very appreciative of the support showed to them in the past and wish to
do the
same. Japanese leaders truly led their
nation’s support for those victims of the devastation, and seek to be
involved
over the long-haul. The Japanese
contributions were so large and so early they help galvanize the world
in to
assisting as well.
(
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/conf0501/address.html)