Emergency Assistance to Pakistan for Drought Disaster

June 21, 2000

On June 21 (Wed), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of 200,000 dollars and emergency assistance in kind (equivalent to about 20 million yen), comprising tents, medical supplies, cisterns and other items to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which has suffered seriously from a prolonged drought.
In Baluchistan and Sind Provinces in Pakistan, a disastrous drought has caused great human and material damage since last summer. According to the Government of Pakistan, 143 people are dead, approximately 2,390,000 people are afflicted, and crops and livestock have suffered severe losses.
In these circumstances, the Government of Pakistan, while conducting relief operations of its own, has requested emergency aid from the Government of Japan.
The Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency assistance from a humanitarian standpoint, in view of the seriousness of this disaster and the friendly relations between Japan and Pakistan.
In response to nuclear testing conducted by Pakistan, the Government of Japan announced on May 29, 1998 that it would suspend new yen loans and new grants except emergency and humanitarian aid and Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects. The assistance extended this time is in the emergency and humanitarian category.

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