Japanese envoy honours quake victims

The Japanese Embassy in Rwanda, Wednesday evening honoured victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck the country’s northeast coast with a minute’s silence. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake unleashed a tsunami leaving 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing. The commemoration, which took place at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Nyarutarama, attracted several government officials, diplomats and members of the business community. Speaking at the event, Ambassador Kunio Hatanaka said Japan was recovering, “In the past year, Japan faced the extraordinary challenges of recovery, but it has also been an opportunity to reaffirm the resilience of the country and its people and the importance of the bond of friendship with the international community,” he said. Hatanaka pointed out that Rwanda was one of the first countries to extend heartfelt condolences to Japan and offer support to the victims and donated $100,000 to support the recovery process. The Japanese envoy emphasised that there are no major barriers stopping Rwandan business people, students and tourists going to Japan. At the same event, Dr Charles Murigande, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Japan, highlighted how Japan recovered from the earthquake. The Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugee Affairs, Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi conveyed Rwanda’s heartfelt sympathy to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. “As disaster managers, we will always take this as a lesson learnt, ranging from post-disaster reconstruction to disaster-risk reduction,” he said. He hailed the Japanese government for the support it has extended to Rwanda despite the disaster that befell the country a year ago. “Our country will always stand with the people of Japan as they struggle to overcome the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami,” Gatsinzi promised. The event was also graced by local musician Jean Paul Samputu, who performed his song “Japan, we are together.”

National

Japanese envoy honours quake victims