Emergency Assistance for Typhoon Disaster in Guam

December 13, 2002

On December 13 (Fri), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency assistance in kind equivalent to about 15 million yen (15 tents, 800 blankets, 150 carpenter's kits and 400 sleeping mats) to Guam, territory of the U.S., which has sustained damage from a typhoon. In the morning of December 14, a delivery ceremony will be held in the presence of Mr. Carl T.C. Gutierrez, Governor of Guam, and Mr. Kenji Tamai, Japanese Consul General to Guam.
On December 8, Typhoon 26 (Pongsona) directly hit Guam, causing the worst devastating disaster in the history of the island. Even now, electricity and water supply services have been severed all over the island. It has been reported that most of the detached houses had their roofs and walls blown off; hotels and other big buildings had their window glass broken; about 3,000 houses were completely or partly ruined; more than about 6,000 houses were flooded; and about 3,500 people were evacuated to shelters.
At present many victims of flooding and the collapse of buildings are being forced to lead an inconvenient life as evacuees. The Government of the U.S. is making its efforts for rehabilitation, but Guam is far away from the mainland. As there is a need for materials for rehabilitation work, a request for assistance has been made to Japan since Japan has geographical proximity and close economic ties with Guam.
The Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency assistance, considering humanitarian factors for the typhoon victims, with a view to assisting the first stage of rehabilitation which is anticipated to need more than several months, and taking into account the friendly relations between Japan and the U.S. and Guam.

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