Japan the only country that remains in a place hit by disaster

TOKYO – The Japanese are proud to note that they are the only ones who remain in a place hit by disaster, even long after they have extended assistance to help in the smooth transition, recovery and reconstruction stage.

Satoru Mimura, of the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Disaster Management Division I (Asia)-Global Environment Department, said in a briefing for Asian journalists at the JICA Head Office that the Japanese government has observed that it is the only donor country that does not leave months after a disaster hit, like the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, as he stressed the importance of transition and recovery.

“Many donors and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) come to the place but after six months or one year nobody come. The people are left in severe situation. We would like to emphasize the importance of smooth transition from response to recovery,” Mimura said.

Mimura said Japan has more than 50 programs in the Asia-Pacific alone. Some of the programs commenced after the tsunami in the Indian Ocean that left approximately 240,000 dead and missing persons and around 1.2 million victims.

“Japan is the only donor which has been supporting the country after the tsunami up to this moment. I observed many donors come in after the tsunami but now nobody dare and only Japan is still in Sri Lanka and Indonesia,” he added.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)-First Country Assistance Planning Division-International Cooperation Bureau, said Japan’s main contribution in response to the major earthquake off the coast of Sumatra and the Indian Ocean tsunami included the implementation of Grant Aid equivalent to approximately $500 million; loan aid (Provision of Yen Loan) approximately ¥10 billion for Sri Lanka and debt relief (moratorium on debt payment) of around ¥161.5 billion for Indonesia and approximately ¥20.5 billion for Sri Lanka.

A total of 1,900 members of Emergency Disaster Relief Team were dispatched and supply of ¥60 million worth of emergency relief goods were distributed. An estimated ¥700 million was also given by Japan for assistance to NGO operations.

As of 2008, Japan has disbursed $2.7 billion in bilateral assistance or Disaster Reduction Initiative through Official Development Assistance (ODA) to African and Asian countries.

It has been responding rapidly and extending appropriate assistance in the immediate aftermath of disaster that extends from reconstruction to sustainable development.

Hiroaki Sano of the Foreign Ministry’s Overseas Disaster Assistance Division, said in a separate briefing that Japan’s Emergency Response includes an Emergency Disaster Relief Team that is dispatched within 24 hours after the disaster, support for healthcare service to the victims, rehabilitation/reconstruction (smooth transition to and implementation of recovery and reconstruction), providing of emergency relief goods and emergency grant aid.

A total of 98 teams were dispatched by Japan from 1987-2008 to 37 countries and regions like the Philippines when it was hit by an earthquake in 1990, the 1991 typhoon and the 2006 oil spill.

“In natural disaster the large victims are the people living in poor condition. They live in worse condition after the disaster. So JICA is helping the victims and continue to support in the reconstruction like houses and increase the awareness of the people,” he said.

Japan, he said, is learning from the various projects and Tokyo will continue such kind of “win-win” cooperation.

Mimura said the recent trend showed an increase in the amount of damage caused by disasters that have hit other countries.

“The magnitude of the cyclone that hit Myanmar last year is bigger so I think to cope with the climate change is one of the big issues of disaster management now and for the future,” he said.

Mimura said Japan takes into account the effect of climate change in the disaster management plan of the country.

“We deal with disaster as a cycle and prevention is most important. We also emphasize strong structures or buildings although it cannot prevent disasters completely. We are emphasizing the importance of prevention stage. We have to be aware of limitation,” he said.