Japan Gives US$2 Million Humanitarian Aid To Hawaii

JAKARTA - The Japanese government on Wednesday said it would provide $2 million in humanitarian aid to Hawaii to help repair the damage caused by the fire that had just occurred on the island of Maui with more than 100 victims.

The assistance, provided through organizations such as the American Red Cross, is aimed at securing evacuation sites, food delivery, and psychological support for those affected by the fire that occurred on August 8, in addition to other needs.

"Japan and Hawaii have been in friendship for years and have engaged in active exchanges in several fields," Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

Of the total aid, 1.5 million USD (around Rp23 billion) will be given to the American Red Cross, and the rest will be provided through the Japan Platform nonprofit organization based in Tokyo.

Hayashi also promised Tokyo's continued support "to a speedy recovery" from the devastated territory.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received reports that several Japanese residents' homes in Maui were damaged, but there has been no further confirmation of the dangers experienced by Japanese citizens, Hayashi said.

According to the Japanese consulate general in Honolulu, hundreds of Japanese nationals live on the island.

Japanese government support measures were announced after local authorities said Tuesday the death toll from the fires in Maui reached 106.

The fire has been the deadliest natural disaster in the United States since the 1918 fire killed hundreds of people in Minnesota, according to US media reports.

In a television interview broadcast on Monday, August 14, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said about 1,300 people had yet to be found after the fire. The state government said Tuesday it had conducted searches in about 32 percent of the affected areas.

It is estimated that $5.52 billion will be needed (approximately IDR 84.3 trillion) to rebuild the affected areas in Lahaina, where most of the buildings affected are settlements, according to a statement from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency.