Emergency Aid to the Republic of Maldives for Tsunami Disaster

December 27, 2004

On December 27 (Mon), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency assistance in kind, equivalent to about 9,700,000 yen, including tents, blankets, electric generators, plastic jerry cans and portable water tanks, to the Government of the Republic of Maldives, which has sustained a major tsunami disaster.
A great tsunami disaster caused by a large-scale earthquake that occurred off the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 26 (Sun), hit Maldives, flooding about two thirds of Male, the capital, and leaving 11 persons dead, several thousands afflicted, and all the houses on some islands washed away (as of 23:30 on 26 (Sun) local time).
On December 26 (Sun), the Government of Maldives declared a State of National Disaster, established a governmental emergency task force for conducting relief operations, damage investigation, and measures against aftereffects, and called on the international community for assistance. In the evening of the same day, taking account of the seriousness of the disaster, Maldives requested emergency assistance (dispatch of a medical team and provision of emergency goods) from the Government of Japan.
The Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency assistance, from a humanitarian point of view for the afflicted of the tsunami disaster and in light of the friendly relations between Japan and Maldives.
Japan is now studying on the possibility of extending other types of emergency assistance.

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