Support and aid to the March 11, Tohoku quake and tsunami victims has not been limited to the previously mentioned donations from the Kandahar local government and residents of Bamiyan. On April 7, Ambassador Sayed M. Amin Fatimie gathered at the Embassy with over 20 leading Afghan residents of Japan to express their condolences, solidarity, and support. The members who joined represented all ethnicities and groups in Afghanistan, and included both men and women.
The goal of the meeting was to discuss ways in which Afghan residents in Japan could offer their direct support of the victims. The result was a decision to pool money from the attendees as well as a general collection from Afghan residents not present at the meeting. This money will go into buying supplies which will be hand delivered to survivors in the hardest hit areas.
As of the second meeting on April 12, 1,841,000 Yen has been raised for supplies, which I have been informed will be delivered to families relocated from Fukushima to Ibaraki and which are currently residing in temporary shelters. A team of fourteen representatives will deliver the goods. The team will be headed by Ambassador Fatimie, Mr. Jafar Ahmadyar, Mr. Haji Hussein, Mr. Amin Kohi, and Ms. Eto Sedeka. The team will also be accompanied by an NHK News crew.
This generous donation by the Afghans living in Japan truly shows their support and resolve in standing by their Japanese brothers and sisters in this time of crisis.
US$1 million in aid donated to Japan’s relief efforts by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
(photo: H.E. President Hamid Karzai signs the Book of Condolence at the Japanese Embassy in Kabul, expressing His and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s deep sadness over the massive loss of life and property in Japan, following a series of natural disasters. On the right stands H.E. Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi of Japan. On the left stands H.E. Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul.)
From the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Website
March 29, 2011: H.E. Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Dr. Muhammad Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of Finance, met with H.E. Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi at the Embassy of Japan in Kabul and, on behalf of H.E. President Hamid Karzai and the Government and people of Afghanistan, presented him with a check for US$1 million to support relief efforts following March 11’s massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The funds are to be used for general support provisions for the people of the Tohoku region who continue to suffer greatly from the effects of this tragedy.
This contribution is in addition to donations from local governments, such as Mayor Hamidi of Kandahar’s US$50,000 contribution, as well as donations from non-governmental and private sources.
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