Emergency Assistance for Earthquake Disaster in Northwestern Papua New Guinea

September 21, 2002

On Saturday September 21, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency assistance goods equivalent to about six million yen, comprising 1,000 plastic canteens, 1,000 towels, five electric generators, 500 blankets, and 20 rolls of plastic sheets, to the Government of Papua New Guinea, which has sustained great damage from an earthquake.
Before dawn on Monday September 9, an earthquake registering 7.5 on the Richter Scale hit a point 95km west-northwest of Wewak city in East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea causing great human and material damage; four people dead, more than 70 injured, about 4,400 afflicted, more than 700 houses completely or partially destroyed, and roads, water service and fields damaged.
In the northwestern part of Papua New Guinea, many afflicted people whose houses were damaged have been forced to evacuate their homes and to live inconveniently. The Government of Papua New Guinea, while exerting self-help efforts for rehabilitation, asked the international community including the Government of Japan for further assistance.
The Government of Japan decided to extend this emergency assistance from a humanitarian viewpoint and in light of the friendly relationship between Japan and Papua New Guinea.

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