Emergency Aid for Earthquake Disaster in Algeria

May 27, 2003

On May 27 (Tue), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of 100,000 dollars to the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria.
Before dawn on May 22 (JST), Algeria was hit by an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale, with its seismic center in the Wilaya of Boumerdes. According to the Interior Ministry of the country, as of the night of May 25 (JST: 26), 2,162 people were reported dead, 8,965 injured, and in addition, immense human and material damage, including collapsed buildings, was left.
The Government of Algeria has established an emergency headquarters, making self-help efforts toward recovery, but still needs further assistance from the international community and has requested emergency assistance from the Government of Japan.
From a humanitarian point of view on assisting the victims of the disaster, taking into account the friendly relations between Japan and Algeria, the Government of Japan has decided to extend assistance.
Before this emergency grant aid, the Government of Japan already dispatched a Japan Disaster Relief rescue team of 61 persons from May 22 to 29, and a JDR medical team of 22 persons from May 25 to June 7. Both teams are now carrying out search, rescue and medical operations in the country, and on May 23 (JST: 24), the rescue team recovered a survivor in Zemmouri, the Wilaya of Boumerdes.

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