PRESS RELEASE 2005

 Jakarta, 7 Januari 2005

Dispatch of the 2nd Disaster Relief Team (Medical Team)to Indonesia to Help Relieve the Aftermath of the Great Earthquake Off Sumatera Coast and Tsunami in the Indian Ocean
[Bahasa Indonesia]

    The government of Japan decided on 7 January 2005 to send the second international emergency Disaster Relief Team (medical team) (composed of an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, medical doctors, and nurses) as from 9 January for 2 weeks period. The first medical team has been dispatched since 30 December 2004 to contribute to the relief efforts carried out to cope with the aftermath of the major earthquake off Sumatera coast and tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

    The first team now on duty treats 270 people at the most in a day (mostly patients suffering external injury, eye disease, flu, diarrhea), and provides guidance on good public sanitation. The first team is scheduled to return to Japan on 12 January. In consideration of the serious and continued need of the local people for continued medical service, Japan has decided to send the second medical team.

[Note]

  1. The recent earthquake has taken toll of more than 90,000 lives in Indonesia, and caused lots of people injured and evacuated. The refugees are now found to be in bad sanitary condition.

  2. In response to the aftermath of the calamity, the government of Japan extends the following emergency assistance to the government of Indonesia :

    1. Emergency assistance in kind (total amount 26 million yen or about US$ 250.000: tents, blankets, electricity generator sets, etc.)

    2. Emergency grant assistance (1,5 million US dollars: emergency food, medical equipment)

    3. Dispatch of Disaster Relief Team (medical team)

  3. Moreover, Prime Minister Koizumi disclosed in his statement issued on 1 January 2005 that Japan would provide grant money up to 500 million US dollars as an emergency assistance to the affected countries and to International Organizations.　About 130 million US dollars of the amount will be extended to the government of Indonesia. 250 million US dollars will be given through an international organization and it will be also a substantial assistance for the relief efforts in Indonesia.

  4. Further more, preparation is underway for realization of transport assistance and improvement of sanitation condition by mobilising the Self Defense Forces. On 6 January an aircraft of the Air Self Defence left the SDF base in Japan for such purpose.

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