KIGALI - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that all Rwandan nationals residing in Japan are safe; following the earthquake, Tsunami and nuclear accident that rocked the country earlier this month.

According to Joseph Kabakeza, who is in charge of the Diaspora Directorate in the ministry, they are in communication with them.

 "We have an Embassy in Japan, and the information I have indicates that they have not been harmed by the Tsunami and the nuclear problems,” Kabakeza told The New Times in an exclusive interview.

About 25 Rwandans live in Japan, mostly students.

Meanwhile the death toll in the country has risen to 8,450 with nearly 13,000 people still missing.

Kabakeza added that there is a family of Rwandans living near the location of the nuclear plants but they have since been evacuated.

"I have got information from our 1st Councilor now in charge of the Embassy in Japan, Benedicto Nshyimiyimana, that the family has been evacuated and they are all fine,” he said.

Recently the government sent a condolence message to Japan and contributed $100,000 to the Japanese Red Cross to offer emergency assistance to the victims.

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