Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMANAKA Osamu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the UNICEF Emergency Briefing: Syria and Türkiye Earthquake
2023/3/8
Thank you, Executive Director Russel, for the in-depth briefing of your timely visit to the region.
I vividly recall the heartfelt sympathy, support, and condolences shown by the international community including Türkiye and Syria, when the Great East Japan Earthquake hit Japan 12 years ago. I believe it is now for Japan to support the people of Türkiye and Syria with the belief that they will recover strongly soon.
Here, I would like to touch upon Japan's assistance since the earthquake struck on February 6th.
Japan has been providing seamless assistance through dispatching rescue teams, and providing material and financial support bilaterally and through international organizations and NGOs.
First, in response to the United Nations request for humanitarian assistance, on February 16, our Foreign Minister announced that Japan would provide a total of approximately $27 million USD in emergency humanitarian assistance through international organizations including UNICEF, Japanese NGOs, and SRTF (Syria Recovery Trust Fund). Through this assistance, Japan provides temporary shelter, food, daily necessities, health and medical care, early recovery assistance such as debris removal, and other assistance to the affected people in Syria and Türkiye. Out of which, $ 1.3 million is earmarked to the project through UNICEF to support water, sanitation, and child protection.
As for our dispatched teams, 74 members worked in Kahramanmaraş in southeastern Türkiye from February 6 to 15, rescuing a girl and helping to collect six bodies. Three emergency medical teams consisting of 180 members in total have also been dispatched sequentially from February 10 with the third team currently in operation. The teams were the first ever dispatched with the surgical capabilities and an in-patient ward. A tented open-air hospital has been set up in Gaziantep to provide medical services to the victims and residents. In Adana, the team is supporting the medical coordination headquarters.
In addition, a team of experts in construction, seismic isolation, and earthquake resistance technology has been dispatched to assess the condition of buildings and infrastructure damaged by the earthquake, and to provide technical advice for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
For material support, JICA emergency relief supplies were provided to both Türkiye and Syria in the form of tents, blankets, plastic sheets, and sleeping pads.
Japan will stay close to the affected people in both countries and we would like to show our solidarity to them by continuously providing the necessary assistance based upon local needs, including through UNICEF.
I thank you.
I vividly recall the heartfelt sympathy, support, and condolences shown by the international community including Türkiye and Syria, when the Great East Japan Earthquake hit Japan 12 years ago. I believe it is now for Japan to support the people of Türkiye and Syria with the belief that they will recover strongly soon.
Here, I would like to touch upon Japan's assistance since the earthquake struck on February 6th.
Japan has been providing seamless assistance through dispatching rescue teams, and providing material and financial support bilaterally and through international organizations and NGOs.
First, in response to the United Nations request for humanitarian assistance, on February 16, our Foreign Minister announced that Japan would provide a total of approximately $27 million USD in emergency humanitarian assistance through international organizations including UNICEF, Japanese NGOs, and SRTF (Syria Recovery Trust Fund). Through this assistance, Japan provides temporary shelter, food, daily necessities, health and medical care, early recovery assistance such as debris removal, and other assistance to the affected people in Syria and Türkiye. Out of which, $ 1.3 million is earmarked to the project through UNICEF to support water, sanitation, and child protection.
As for our dispatched teams, 74 members worked in Kahramanmaraş in southeastern Türkiye from February 6 to 15, rescuing a girl and helping to collect six bodies. Three emergency medical teams consisting of 180 members in total have also been dispatched sequentially from February 10 with the third team currently in operation. The teams were the first ever dispatched with the surgical capabilities and an in-patient ward. A tented open-air hospital has been set up in Gaziantep to provide medical services to the victims and residents. In Adana, the team is supporting the medical coordination headquarters.
In addition, a team of experts in construction, seismic isolation, and earthquake resistance technology has been dispatched to assess the condition of buildings and infrastructure damaged by the earthquake, and to provide technical advice for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
For material support, JICA emergency relief supplies were provided to both Türkiye and Syria in the form of tents, blankets, plastic sheets, and sleeping pads.
Japan will stay close to the affected people in both countries and we would like to show our solidarity to them by continuously providing the necessary assistance based upon local needs, including through UNICEF.
I thank you.