The Fijian Government today received donations from the Japanese Government worth $5.8 million to assist Fijians with the restoration of basic needs and livelihoods of communities affected by natural disasters.
The items donated includes five 12 ton excavators, four 10 ton dump trucks, one motor grader, four 9 ton cargo crane, five twin cabs, four forklifts, four tractors with mold board plows and disc harrows and spare parts, four fiberglass boats and 60HP engines.
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Doctor Mahendra Reddy says that the items would be utilized to provide immediate assistance to affected communities such as cleaning of roadblocks, landslides, fallen trees and evacuation of stranded people in the event of a natural disaster.
He also says that to ensure these items are utilized efficiently, the Ministry also intends to deploy the vehicles and machines for projects that are aligned towards disaster resilience and risk reduction initiatives during non-disaster periods.
The items were donated under an Agreement signed in 2017 for the procurement of services under the Japan’s Grant Aid for the economic and social development program.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Ambassador to Fiji, Masahiro Omura says that it is in their plans to provide Fiji with more long term assistance in the future.
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