Emergency Aid to Jamaica for Damage Caused by Hurricane Dean

August 24, 2007

On August 24 (Fri), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency relief goods (blankets, water tanks, plastic sheets, generators, reels of electric cord and water purifiers) worth about 15 million yen to Jamaica, which has sustained a disaster caused by hurricane Dean.
Hurricane Dean passed over the southern coast of Jamaica in the afternoon of August 19 local time (morning of August 20: Japan time). It has been confirmed that in the whole of Jamaica including Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, 3 persons were dead and about 5,000 people evacuated to shelters because they lost their houses. Even though the whole picture of the damage is not yet known, the local authority estimates that about 200,000 - 300,000 people, more than 10% of Jamaica’s population, has been affected.
Some areas in Jamaica continue suffering power failure and suspension of water supply, and the evacuees are forced to live under difficult conditions. The Government of Jamaica has requested emergency aid from the international community, while making efforts for recovery.
In response to the request of the Government of Jamaica, the Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency aid out of humanitarian consideration for the disaster-affected people as well as in view of the friendly relations between Japan and Jamaica.

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