Emergency Assistance to the Kingdom of Bhutan for the Earthquake Disaster

October 14, 2009
Japanese

The Government of Japan has decided to extend emergency assistance to the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan, which suffered damages from an earthquake that occurred on September 21 (Mon). The assistance includes items such as tents, blankets, sleeping mats, and plastic sheets equivalent to approximately 10 million JPY.
On September 21 at 2:53 PM (local time), an earthquake registering magnitude 6.3 occurred in eastern Bhutan, near the city of Trashigang, resulting in 4,595 damaged households including 12 people dead and 47 wounded. In addition, prefectural government office buildings, county courthouse buildings, temples, schools, clinics, pagodas, and other public facilities also suffered damage, including collapses.
At present, 3,200 households are still being forced to live outdoors. The Government of Bhutan is exerting all possible efforts to assist the victims of the disaster, and has requested emergency aid from the Government of Japan.
The Government of Japan, from a humanitarian viewpoint and in light of the friendly relationship between Japan and Bhutan, has decided to extend emergency aid to the victims of this disaster.

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