Emergency Assistance for the Earthquake Disaster in Iran and Transport of the Supplies by Air Self Defense Force

December 29, 2003

The Government of Japan decided on December 29 (Mon) to provide additional assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in response to the earthquake disaster in Bam, Province of Kerman in southeastern Iran. In addition to the assistance announced on December 27 (Sat), the Government of Japan will provide tents, blankets, plastic sheets and other supplies, which will be transported by the Air Self-Defense Force. The Defense Agency decided to dispatch two C-130H transport planes for the task, in response to the consultation made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on the Law Concerning Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Teams. They will leave Komaki Air Base on the 30th, Singapore on the 31st, arriving at Kerman on January 1, 2004.
On December 27 (Sat), the Government of Japan announced emergency grant assistance for distribution of emergency food for the affected people, which will amount to 770 thousand dollars (approximately 83 million yen). On the same day, the Government of Japan also decided to dispatch an emergency relief medical team and to extend emergency assistance in kind (tents, electric power generators, blankets, water tanks, etc.), equivalent to about 25 million yen. The total amount of Japan's assistance decided on December 27 (Sat) in response to the earthquake disaster will be approximately 1 million dollars. The assistance announced today will be additional to this package.
On December 26, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale occurred in the city of Bam, Province of Kerman in southeastern Iran. The inflicted damage so far confirmed amounts to at least 5,000 deaths and 30,000 injured. Other serious humanitarian and physical damages include collapsed buildings, damages to agricultural products and livestock and disconnection of the telephone network.
The residence of many people have either collapsed or been damaged, and many are trapped under the debris or have been compelled to evacuate. While the Government of Iran has been making its utmost efforts for rehabilitation, a request for assistance for the victims has been made to the Government of Japan in light of the further need for assistance.
In view of the humanitarian need of the victims of this disaster and the friendly relationship between Japan and Iran, the Government of Japan has decided to extend the emergency assistance announced on the 27th and 29th.

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