[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan] [Tuesday, Feb 23, 2016]
Message of Sympathies from Prime Minister Abe and Foreign Minister Kishida for the Damage Caused by the Cyclone Winston in the Republic of Fiji
In the wake of the damage in the Republic of Fiji caused by the Cyclone Winston, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister, and Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on February 23, sent messages respectively to Hon. Rear Admiral (Retired) Josaia Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, Prime Minister the Republic of Fiji, and Hon. Ratu Inoke KUBUABOLA,　Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Fiji, expressing their sympathies to the affected people and wishes for rapid rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas.
[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan] [Tuesday, Feb 23, 2016]
Emergency Assistance to Fiji in Response to the Cyclone Disaster
1. On February 23, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency relief goods including tents etc. to Fiji through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in response to the request from the Government of the Republic of Fiji following serious damage caused by the Cyclone Winston.
2. In Fiji, the Cyclone Winston passed from late at night of 20 until the early hours of 21 February and gave rise to enormous damage. As of February 23, there are confirmed report of twenty eight people dead and more than thirteen thousand people evacuating. It is possible that the number of those affected will go up as the details of the disaster become clear.
3. The Government of Japan, in response to the request from the Government of the Republic of Fiji, has decided to provide emergency assistance, from a humanitarian viewpoint and taking into account of the friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Fiji.
4. The early restoration and recovery of the affected areas is important. The Government of Japan will continue to discuss with the Government of the Republic of Fiji regarding the assistance for the restoration and recovery of Fiji including utilization of grant aid of 300 million Japanese yen which is recently decided to extend.
[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan] [Friday, Feb 26, 2016]
Emergency Grant Aid in response to Zika virus infection
1. On February 26, the Government of Japan decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of 1 million US dollars through the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in response to Zika virus infection.
2. This emergency grant aid mainly to Latin America and the Caribbean region, where serious humanitarian needs are growing by the increase in the number of microcephaly syndrome associated with Zika virus infection. The grant aid will be extended in order to assist the measures taken to gather information of the infection, improve the treatment of pregnant women, raise awareness to prevent the infection and improve the situation of water and sanitation in the region.
[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan] [Tuesday, Feb 23, 2016]
2016 Junior Summit in Mie
1. The 2016 Junior Summit in Mie, a summit for junior high and high school students, will be held in connection with the Ise-Shima Summit for the purposes of fostering international exchanges between youths and raising their awareness of the issues faced by the international community. An overview of the event is as follows:
(1) Dates: Friday, April 22 - Thursday, April 28, 2016 (tentative)
(2) Location: Main venue in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, with visits in Mie Prefecture and to Tokyo
(3) Participants: Two boys and two girls aged 15-18 from each G7 member country.
(Ise-shima Summit Affairs Bureau of the Mie prefectural government has been asked to select the participants from Japan.)
2. The participants will discuss topics related to the main theme of "The Planet for the next generations: the environment and sustainable society."
3. In addition, exchanges and interactive activities around Mie Prefecture and in Tokyo are planned, presenting the opportunity to experience the diverse allures of Japan and to deepen exchanges between youths of the same generation.