Moving on with the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction

This year marks the halfway point in the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, which began in 1990; we now face an even more important five years up to the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Despite the relentless efforts of humankind, natural disasters that have occurred around the world, such as large temblors like the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, volcanic eruptions, and floods, show our fragility against disaster and appear to be increasing in terms of the degree of impact.

From now on, Japan intends to continue its policy of promoting international cooperation to contribute to the reduction of damage caused by natural disasters, especially in developing countries, which is Japan's basic policy for promoting the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction.

The Foreign Ministry of Japan will undertake international exchange cooperation projects, focused on the following areas:

• Assistance for the improvement and diffusion of science and technology related to natural disaster reduction, training of personnels, and improvement of the counter-disaster systems, etc., through technical cooperation in such areas as training activities, joint research, dispatch of experts, supply of equipment, etc.
• Assistance to projects conducive to the reduction of natural disasters.
• Promotion of the transference of Japan's experience and knowledge, and mutual exchanges of experiences and knowledge of each country through holding international conferences, etc.
• Enhancement of international emergency relief assistance.