Emergency Aid to Indonesia for Earthquake Disaster on Alor Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province

November 18, 2004

The Government of Japan has decided to extend emergency assistance in kind, equivalent to about 13 million yen, comprising tents, plastic sheets, sleeping mats and blankets, to Indonesia, which has sustained a large-scale disaster from an earthquake that occurred on November 12 off Alor Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province.
Before dawn on November 12, an earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred off Alor Island in Indonesia, causing much damage to many residents. At present, there are 24 people dead, 115 seriously injured, 119 lightly injured, 575 houses completely destroyed, and 3,980 houses severely damaged. The quake-hit area is, however, so remote that there is a difficulty in getting a clear-cut picture of disaster and it is likely that the numbers of victims will rise.
The Government of Indonesia dispatched on November 15 a survey mission headed by Mr. Alwi Shihab, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, to the affected area to assess the scale of the damage and to conduct relief operations. Since many evacuees face difficult living conditions, the National Coordinating Board for Disaster Management of Indonesia has requested assistance from Japan.
The Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency aid for humanitarian reasons to those afflicted by the disaster and in view of the friendly relations between Japan and Indonesia.

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