Fiji’s recovery efforts after TC Harold have been boosted with $200,000 worth of emergency relief supplies from the Japanese government.
In a joint statement yesterday, the Japanese embassy in Fiji and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Fiji office said the assistance was made upon request from the Fijian Government.
The relief supplies include tents, water tanks, generators and other items.
“Japan decided to provide this emergency relief assistance from a humanitarian point of view and in light of a strong friendship between Japan and Fiji,” the joint statement said.
The JICA Fiji office is now working closely with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) for the procurement of goods in several batches from local retailers.
The items will be handed over to the Government of Fiji soon.
“The government and people of Japan convey their deepest sympathies to the people of Fiji for the damages and losses, hoping that the most vulnerable in the communities and families can recover soon from the setback caused by the cyclone.”
Meanwhile, the New Zealand government is also supporting the Fiji Red Cross Society (FRCS) in their response to TC Harold, including the distribution of essential relief supplies to affected areas in Kadavu and the southern Lau Group.
NZ High Commissioner to Fiji Jonathan Curr met the Fiji Red Cross director general, Ilisapeci Rokotunidau, this week to discuss how the NZ government’s funding of $204,000 would support its efforts in humanitarian response and early recovery activities.
The funding is also expected to enable FRCS in replenishing disaster relief supplies.
