SINGAPORE'S ASSISTANCE TO JAPAN

SINGAPORE'S ASSISTANCE TO JAPAN: 8.

Mr Michael Palmer asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he would provide an update on the assistance that Singapore has rendered to Japan following the recent earthquake, tsunami and ongoing nuclear power plant crisis.

The Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, exactly a month ago, Japan was struck by three disasters on 11th March − a massive earthquake, a devastating tsunami and a nuclear power plant crisis. More than 13,000 people are known to have perished and another 15,000 are still missing. Immediately after the earthquake, I called a long-time friend, Kazuo Tomita, who was residing in Osaka then out of concern for him and his family. Fortunately, the disasters had spared Osaka, and my friend and his family were safe. He was thankful for my call, but I also detected from the tone of his voice the seriousness of the disaster for Japan as a whole. Just as the word "tsunami" has a Japanese origin, friends of Japan will remember another Japanese word "kizuna" which Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has used yesterday to thank the world for the new "bonding" this 11th March tsunami has brought between Japan and the world.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the scale of the disaster brought about a spontaneous and huge outpouring of sympathy among Singaporeans for the Japanese people. Both individuals and organisations in Singapore have contributed generously to requests for donations from the Singapore Red Cross Society and Mercy Relief.

Prime Minister Lee wrote to Japanese Prime Minister Kan expressing his condolences for the disaster victims and pledging our readiness to assist in any way we can. At the request of the Japanese government, we immediately sent a Singapore Civil Defence Force team of search specialists and search dogs the day after the earthquake, to help in search and rescue operations.

When Japanese Ambassador Yoichi Suzuki briefed Minister George Yeo on the disaster on 15th March, he said there was a shortage of blankets, mattresses, bottled water and water containers and requested our assistance in supplying these articles. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) worked with the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Red Cross Society and Mercy Relief to source for these items and to dispatch them. Our humanitarian support was carried out in close consultation with the Japanese government. The supplies reached the Sendai distribution centre in Miyagi prefecture on 20th March, and were then distributed to various evacuation centres. Sendai was one of the worst hit cities, destroyed by the tsunami. Mercy Relief has so far dispatched three teams to Japan, including the prefectures of Iwate and Miyagi. The teams are doing good work on the ground.

The Singapore Government has contributed S$500,000 as seed money to the Singapore Red Cross Society to encourage donations to relief efforts in Japan. Since its appeal opened on 15th March, the Singapore Red Cross Society has collected S$19 million in donations so far. This amount excludes the Government's contribution.

Besides the Government, it is gratifying to see many Singaporeans and businesses also stepping forward to offer support that goes beyond monetary donations. Singaporean youths have put up fund-raising performances in support for Japan. Recognising the human dimension of the disaster and the need for us to be at one with the Japanese people during this period, an Inter-Religious Organisation gathering, comprising Singapore religious leaders from the different faiths, was held on 23rd March to express our solidarity with the Japanese people. Minister George Yeo and I were present at the gathering. In fact, there were touching moments when we saw children, school children and even kindergarten children, presenting paintings and drawings of greeting and solidarity with the Japanese people to the Japanese Ambassador. And so was at the Singapore Discovery Centre International Friendship Day last Friday where I saw schoolchildren making origami cranes for presentation to the Japanese Embassy.

The humanitarian and recovery phases are likely to end in the coming weeks. Singapore will also contribute to the reconstruction phase that follows. When I met the Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto at the sidelines of the Special ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta over the weekend, I reiterated Singapore's offer of further relief assistance to Japan and our readiness to work with the Japanese government to contribute to the long-term reconstruction efforts in the disaster-stricken areas of north-east Japan. MFA is now working with other Singapore organisations, public, people and private, to pool resources under the Singapore Red Cross Society for this purpose.

Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol): I thank the Senior Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I was just wondering if there are any other areas aside from donations of funds and outpourings of comfort that Singaporeans could do for Japan in this time of recovery, post-crisis.

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed: I think much has been done as far as recovery is concerned, and the Japanese government itself is now paying due attention to reconstruction. Just at the Jakarta meeting, in fact, there was a lot of sharing of what has been done, and while they are grateful, they also look forward to us working together in terms of the reconstruction. As far as reconstruction is concerned, we are still waiting for the Japanese government. They are also consolidating their position and to see what needs to be done. We will work closely with the Japanese Embassy here and also the Japanese government, as far as reconstruction efforts are concerned.