Emergency Assistance to India for Flood Disaster

August 18, 2000

On Friday, August 18, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of 500,000 US dollars to India, which has suffered seriously from floods, particularly in the northeastern and northern parts, from torrential rain that fell on and off from the end of June to the beginning of August.
The torrential rain has caused flood disaster, leaving great human and material damage nationwide. According to the Government of India, more than 536 lives have been lost and about 7.6 million people are afflicted, and damage has expanded to houses, roads, electricity supply, and agricultural products.
In these circumstances, the Government of India and the States Governments of affected areas have been conducting relief operations of their own.
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 India.
In response to India's nuclear testing, the Government of Japan announced on May 13, 1998 that it would suspend new yen loan and new grant aid to India, except for emergency and humanitarian aid and Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects. This emergency assistance is in the emergency and humanitarian category.

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