Emergency Aid to Afghanistan for Earthquake Disaster

February 13, 1998

1. The Government of Japan decided on February 13 (Fri.) to extend an emergency aid of 75 million yen to Afghanistan, which has sustained an earthquake disaster, through the Japanese Red Cross Society. This emergency aid is in response to "the United Nations Appeal for Emergence Air Drop" issued on February 12 jointly by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations.
   
   
2. On February 4, an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale and with aftershocks, hit Rustak, Takhar Province (about 280 km north of Kabul, the capital, and near the border with Tadzhikistan), in the northwestern part of the country, leaving much human and material damage. According to circles close to the local authorities, 4,281 persons are dead, over 1,600 injured, and approximately 4,000 houses completely or partly ruined.
   
   
3. The Government of Japan has decided to extend the present aid from a humanitarian point of view, as well as in consideration of the seriousness of the damage and the traditionally friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries.
   
   
4. Presently, Japan does not recognize any Afghan political power as the government.