Japan to give $1m more in aid for flood victims

Japan has announced that it will provide $1 million more in aid for flood victims in the eastern region of Bangladesh, reports bdnews24.com.

Iwama Kiminori, Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, shared the decision of the Japanese government in a video message on Friday.

The envoy said the interim government of Bangladesh was faced with its first large-scale natural disaster since its swearing-in almost one month ago.

"Japan wishes to stand firmly with Bangladeshi people. In this vein, as announced in Tokyo today, the government of Japan decided to provide assistance worth $1 million to flood-affected areas through UNHCR and UNICEF. These two UN agencies will swiftly deliver relief supplies to those in need."

He mentioned that Japan has already provided emergency humanitarian aid worth $2 million to the Japan Platform, a platform of Japanese NGOs, to launch a programme to provide emergency relief in eastern Bangladesh. "Under this programme, seven Japanese NGOs are currently delivering various relief materials on the ground."

Furthermore, the Japanese Commerce & Industry Association in Dhaka and the Japanese Association in Dhaka donated a total of Tk 0.2 million to the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society to support individuals and families affected by the floods.

He hoped that the 'all-Japan' assistance from the government, businesses, NGOs, and others would help the Bangladeshi people to 'build back better'.

"Let me conclude by reiterating Japan's commitment under the strategic partnership between the two countries to support the government of Bangladesh as well as the people of Bangladesh in recovering from this natural disaster."