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Fiji

Fiji: Japan provides hurricane relief assistance

The government of Japan has provided emergency relief assistance consisting of 100 tents and 500 blankets worth 10 million Japanese Yen or FJD$190,000 to Fiji, especially for areas greatly affected by Hurricane Tomas.

The Japanese government had decided to extend emergency assistance to Fiji on humanitarian grounds and in light of the "friendly relations between Japan and Fiji" following a request from the Fiji Government.

Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Katsuya Okada in a message to Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said:

"My meeting with Your Excellency on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September of 2009, remains clearly in my mind, and it is with great sadness and grief that I learned about the damage caused by the cyclone that affected your country recently."

Mr Katsuya added: "On behalf of the government and the people of Japan, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to the Government and the people of the Republic of the Fiji Islands."

The media release from the Embassy of Japan noted that the "government and people of Japan hope that with the strong determination and resilience of the people of Fiji, combined with the supoort of the State and the international community, Fiji will be able to make a quick recovery from the suffering and destruction caused by Hurricane Tomas."

Japan's Foreign Affairs minister conveyed the wishes of the government of Japan that the assistance in-kind would assist Fiji's recovery efforts and further wished Fiji quick revival from the disaster.