BRATISLAVA, March 14, (WEBNOVINY) – Slovakia will spend EUR 250,000 on humanitarian aid this year. Part of this sum will be directed to Japan, which was just hit by strong earthquakes and a tsunami. On Monday, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova informed the members of the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs of the results of a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The EU countries have agreed to coordinate aid. ”We want to coordinate the entire process of humanitarian aid with other countries, so that everything is above-board and in the event that they need something in particular,” said the prime minister, adding that neither the form nor the extent of aid has been agreed upon.
According to Radicova, the key issue will be how to transport this aid to Japan and how to subsequently distribute it so that it really reaches those in need. She said that it has been made clear in the past that sending financial aid is not the best way, so also Slovakia is considering sending material aid. Radicova repeated that Slovakia is ready to send 25 rescuers to Japan within four hours, and also food, water, blankets and shelters. “We are only waiting for Japan to define the means of transport, appropriate intervals and what they need most,” added Radicova.
A deadly earthquake followed by a tsunami has taken hundreds lives in Japan. Thousands of people are still missing. The 8.9-magnitude quake last Friday was the seventh largest recorded earthquake in history. On Saturday, 5.6 million Japanese households were without electrical power, and the Fukushima nuclear power plant has been heavily damaged.
SITA
