Disaster affected people holding emergency relief blankets delivered by JICA after flooding in Timor-Leste in April 2021. Japanese NGOs also cooperated in the distribution. (Photo: Peace Winds Japan)

Residents receiving emergency food assistance provided through Japan’s emergency grant aid for hurricane damage in Guatemala (Photo: WFP)

Japan stands ready for the immediate provision of emergency assistance in response to requests from governments of affected countries or international organizations when large-scale disasters have occurred overseas. There are five types of Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) teams that provide humanitarian assistance: (i) Urban Search and Rescue Team, (ii) Medical Team, (iii) Infectious Diseases Response Team, (iv) Expert Team (to provide technical advice or guidance on emergency disaster mitigation activities and recovery operations), and (v) Self-Defense Force Unit (to undertake medical activities and transportation of aid supplies and personnel when it is deemed particularly necessary). These teams are dispatched either individually or in combination.

Emergency relief goods are provided as in-kind assistance. Japan stockpiles, in three overseas warehouses, tents, blankets, and other supplies needed for affected people in the wake of a disaster. In 2021, Japan provided emergency relief goods to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Palau, the Philippines, Saint Vincent, and Timor-Leste.

In addition, Japan provides Emergency Grant Aid to governments of countries affected by natural disasters and/or conflict and international organizations providing emergency assistance in affected areas, for the purpose of relieving refugees, displaced persons, those who have been affected by natural disaster or conflict overseas, and others. In many cases, Japanese NGOs contribute as implementing partners when these international organizations engage in actual emergency assistance (see Part III for achievements in 2021).

Moreover, Japanese NGOs also provide various forms of assistance to those affected by disasters utilizing ODA. Japan Platform (JPF) Note 32 provides humanitarian assistance to refugees, displaced persons, people affected by conflicts and/or natural disasters, and others. The NGOs affiliated with JPF provide various forms of support to meet the local needs in regions that are often hard for local government aid to reach (see “(3) Cooperation with Japanese NGOs” for the achievements).

Disaster response is a common concern of Japan and ASEAN, which are beset by numerous natural disasters. Japan continuously supports strengthening of the capacity of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) established in 2011. In 2021, Japan provided support for the establishment of an Integrated Information and Communication Technology System, capacity development, as well as the establishment and utilization of the Disaster Emergency Logistic System for ASEAN (DELSA) to rapidly transport emergency relief items to affected countries.

1. Note 32: See the glossary.

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