Japan donates relief items to Sierra Leone
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has presented emergency relief items to the Sierra Leone High Commission in Accra in response to the August 14, 2017 mudslide that claimed the lives of more than 400 people.
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The items included tents, blankets, plastic sheets, sleeping pads, water purifiers and tanks.
The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Kaoru Yoshimura, handed over the items to the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Umu Hawa Tejan-Jaloh, at the World Food Programme (WFP) cargo village in Accra last Wednesday for onward shipment to Sierra Leone.
Solidarity
Mr Yoshimura told the Daily Graphic after the handover ceremony that the people of Japan decided to extend the support “after Japan received a request from the government of Sierra Leone following the serious damages.”
More than 400 people are reported to have died, with over 600 others missing after a mudslide swept away homes in the largest slum community in Freetown in Sierra Leone.
The incident has thrown the entire country into a state of shock and sorrow. Many of the victims have still not been found.
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Japan consoles
Mr Yoshimura said the incident in Freetown reminded the Japanese government of many natural disasters that occurred in Japan in the past.
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“As a result of this, the people of Japan have a deeper understanding of the pain of experiencing great magnitude of natural disasters such as mudslides in Freetown,” he stated.
Mr Yoshimura said the loss of human lives and livelihood could be a psychological drain and could draw back socio-economic efforts in affected areas, adding that: “The government and people of Japan are hopeful that these items will bring some comfort to the victims.”
According to him, Japan continued to remain great partners with countries in the sub-region and gave an assurance of the continuous commitment of Japan towards the development of Africa.
Sierra Leone grateful
Madam Tejan-Jaloh expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for the assistance and gave an assurance that the items would be distributed duly to the people as soon as they arrived in Sierra Leone.