Attachments
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
=B7 On March 3, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced the conclusion of the search and rescue phase of the earthquake response, formally shifting the focus of the response to recovery.
=B7 As of March 4, the Christchurch earthquake had resulted in 163 confirmed deaths, according to the Government of New Zealand (GoNZ) Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management (MCDEM). More than 200 people remained missing; however, the number of missing individuals likely includes some or all of the confirmed deaths. International forensics teams continue to assist local authorities to identify victims.
=B7 On March 1 at 1251 hours local time, New Zealand residents observed a moment of silence to honor the one-week anniversary of the February 22 earthquake. Members of the USAR team from the Los Angeles County Fire Department attended a ceremony at the Christchurch Cathedral to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the disaster. Other USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) members attended a simultaneous service at the Canterbury Television building site.
=B7 On February 28, New Zealand Prime Minister Key announced a six-week earthquake support package for Christchurch businesses and workers. The package provides a total of approximately $90.2 million to assist affected employers to continue paying wages, as well as individuals who lost jobs as a result of the disaster.