[Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Friday, Nov 7, 2014]
Emergency grant aid in response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in three West African countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone)
1. On November 7, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid totaling 18 million US dollars to support the Ebola virus disease outbreak response in three West African countries.
2. The Ebola virus disease still continues to spread rapidly in West Africa. There have been 13,540 cases and 4,941 deaths in the three affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (As of October 31 WHO). The Ebola virus disease broke out in those countries where health infrastructures were weak by nature, and it shows no signs of abating yet, which explains the urgent need of the prompt assistance by international organizations and donors.
3. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged at the United Nations General Assembly that Japan would extend assistance totaling 40 million US dollars as an additional response to this epidemic. Along with the aid of 22 million US dollars through international organizations, which was decided on October 3, this aid of 18 million US dollars constitutes part of the pledge. This assistance will be utilized to: disburse 5.94 million US dollars (for enhancing logstics capacities and rehabilitating health infrastructures) to the Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) to support the smooth execution of the activities of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), the coordinator of the overall response of international organizations and donors in the three affected countries; and extend bilateral assistance to improve the Ebola response capabilities of these countries by providing pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and other supplies for treatment centers (4.02 million US dollars per country).
Reference:
Japan’s assistance in response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa (Total: Approx. 27.897 million US dollars (up to now))
(1) Emergency grant aid: Approx. 24.02 million US dollars
(2) Emergency relief goods: Relief goods worth approx. 920,000 US dollars and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
(3) Disbursements to international organizations: Approx. 2.157 million US dollars
(4) Dispatch of experts: A total of six Japanese experts via the World Health Organization
(5) Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects: Approx. 800,000 US dollars
[Cabinet Secretariat] [Wednesday, Nov 5, 2014]
Meeting for the Drill to Establish Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters and Tsunami Disaster Prevention
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Meeting for the Drill to Establish Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters and Tsunami Disaster Prevention, held on Tsunami Disaster Prevention Day (November 5) at the Prime Minister’s Office, and gave an address.
The large-scale tsunami accompanying the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 destroyed many precious human lives, particularly along the Pacific coast in the Tohoku region.
In the wake of this, in June of that year the Act on the Promotion of Tsunami Countermeasures was enacted, establishing November 5 as the annual “Tsunami Disaster Prevention Day.” It was decided that efforts would be made on this day to widely promote understanding and interest in tsunami countermeasures among the public.
During the meeting, there were reports on initiatives and the situation related to Tsunami Disaster Prevention Day, as well as drills on earthquake and tsunami disaster prevention occurring in every region.
Following the reports on drills, the Prime Minister said in his address,
“I would like to offer some remarks upon the drill to establish emergency disaster response headquarters during Tsunami Disaster Prevention Day.
Just now, we received a report from State Minister Nishimura. It is of great significance that earthquake and tsunami disaster prevention drills are taking place in every region with the participation of residents today, on Tsunami Disaster Prevention Day.
Many lives were destroyed by the tsunami during the Great East Japan Earthquake. According to damage predictions, in the worst possible situation, it has been calculated that the tsunami from an earthquake in the Nankai Trough could cause as many as 230,000 deaths.
Building on the previous lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake and at other times, the Government is constantly preparing for future tsunami disasters and reconsidering disaster prevention countermeasures from both hard and soft infrastructure perspectives.
Because this is an natural disaster that could happen suddenly, the most important thing to protect lives is preparedness and preparation for disasters by each and every member of the public.
At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, there were cases, such as what came to be called the ‘Miracle of Kamaishi,’ in which the lives of many children were saved thanks to daily disaster prevention education and evacuation drills. These experiences of people saving their own lives from the tsunami are precious lessons, and it is important that they be shared and passed down to future generations without becoming diluted.
In that sense, the initiatives for disaster prevention to have drills and other events occur throughout Japan every year in every region on Tsunami Disaster Prevention Day, bringing together the Government, municipal governments, private sector companies, and the public, are extremely important.
I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing the hope that everyone continue to utilize their creativity and ingenuity to undertake initiatives that will protect lives. Thank you.”
[Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Wednesday, Nov 5, 2014]
Courtesy Call from Nobel Prize in Physics recipient Professor Shuji Nakamura of University of California, Santa Barbara
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from Professor Shuji Nakamura of University of California, Santa Barbara, recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics, at the Prime Minister's Office.
At the opening of the meeting, the Prime Minister said the following,
“Japan has become excited again for the first time in a long time. When it comes to the Nobel Prize for Physics, there are usually many things which are difficult for us laymen to understand, but this time the prize was awarded to the approachable presence that is the LED. This prize was awarded for an invention Dr. Nakamura made when he was in Tokushima, and so I also think that this is wonderful as an example of an invention that has gone from the local regions of Japan to the world.”
[Wednesday, Nov 5, 2014]
"We Are Tomodachi Autumn 2014" is now available!
The latest issue of "We Are Tomodachi", Japanese Gov’t official magazine, is now available. Learn about Japanese high technology such as the Shinkansen, enjoy beautiful autumn photos in Japan, and more!
