The Government of Japan handed over FJ$5.8 million worth of items to the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development at the ministry’s Walu Bay warehouse yesterday.

Japan’s Ambassador to Fiji Masahiro Omura said that in light of Japan’s shared experiences in natural disasters and the devastation caused, the Japanese Government also extended its medium to long term assistance to build more resilient communities against future natural disasters.

Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, Mahendra Reddy, said the items donated would be used to provide immediate assistance to affected communities.

This includes the clearing of roadblock, landslides and evacuation of people in the event of a natural disaster.

“This assistance that you have provided will be utilised by the ministries to build resilience among these communities, so cost of the natural disasters will be minimal,” Mr Reddy said.

“This will also enable the communities to bounce back from these disasters because we have enhanced and protected them through building infrastructure, drainage systems, dealing with flood protection and ensuring that they have better road condition.”

The grant aid was donated under an agreement for the procurement of services under the Japan’s Grant Aid for the economic and social development programme that was signed between the two governments in 2017.

The Japanese donation included five 12-tonne excavators, four 10-tonne dump trucks, one motor grader, four nine-tonne cargo crane, five twin cabs, four forklifts, four tractors with mold board plows and disc harrows and spare parts, four fibreglass boats and 60horsepower engines.

Edited by Percy Kean

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