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Paraguay

Emergency aid to the Republic of Paraguay for fire disaster

  1. On August 3 (Tue), the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency assistance in kind (such medical equipment as suction tubes, sphygmomanometers, surgical gloves and bandages, and medicines for external injuries) equivalent to approximately 5 million yen, to the Government of the Republic of Paraguay, which has sustained damage from a fire.

2. On August 1 (Japan time: 2 (Mon), a large-scale fire broke out in a supermarket in Asuncion, Paraguay's capital. The fire, which seems to have been caused by the explosion of a compressed gas cylinder, left 364 people dead and 524 injured (as of August 3).

The Government of Paraguay has therefore established an emergency medical committee to start relief efforts for the injured and has also requested emergency assistance from the international community including Japan.

3. The Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency aid from a humanitarian point of view, taking into account the seriousness of the disaster and the friendly relations between Japan and Paraguay.

4. On August 2, Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, sent a message of condolences to Ms. Leila Rachid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Paraguay.