Hiroshi Oe, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan handed over the list of emergency relief goods to Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) during a ceremony held here on Friday. Prior to the handing over ceremony, the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) delivered emergency relief goods including 3,150 tents, 13,000 blankets and 3,652 plastic sheets, worth 35 million yen (around US $437,000) to the two flood-affected districts of Balochistan province, Nasirabad and Jaffarabad.

In the middle of severe winter, those affected by the floods are in dire need of these items. Hiroshi Oe expressed his sympathy to the sufferings of those affected by the floods this year and stated that the Government of Japan is privileged to be a part of the humanitarian assistance to help 4.85 million people in the flood-affected area.

One stated that the Government of Japan has recently provided emergency grant aid worth US $4.7 million, in addition to the emergency supplies to Balochistan province. With these latest commitments, Japan's humanitarian co-operation in response to the flood damage caused by the floods in 2010, 2011 and 2012 amounts to approximately 584 million US dollars. Oe said, "We have always reached out to one another in times of difficulties. I am sure that this bond of friendship will continue in the next sixty years and beyond."-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012