Tuesday at Camp Charlie, the Japanese contingent of the Minustah, has conducted a ceremony of delivery of equipment (heavy equipment, electrical and medical) to the Haitian Government. Japanese and Haitian governments will soon sign an agreement on the transfer of equipment estimated at 3.66 million U.S. dollars.

The Government of Japan has decided to provide 14 heavy machinery (5 excavators, 4 bulldozers, 3 backhoe loaders and 2 graders) including 4 militarized equipment used by troops of the Ground Self-Defense Force to support the reconstruction of Haiti after the earthquake in January 2010, as part of the Mission of the United Nations Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah) and other equipment GSDF (Ground Self-Defense Force) used in Haiti, including generators and lighting. This equipment will now be used by the National Counter Equipment (CNE).

Mr. Kenji Kuratomi the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires in Port-au-Prince declared "[...] In order to contribute to the process of reconstruction of Haiti to strengthen the material capacity of its institutions, services to the welfare of the Haitian people, the Government of Japan has decided to donate to the Government of the Republic of Haiti, of construction equipment, medical equipment valued at approximately 3,660.000 USD, which belonged to the Corps of Engineers Japanese engaged in the Peacekeeping operation of the United Nations in Haiti."

Concerning the militarized equipment, the Japanese government affirmed that the Haitian government is committed not to use such equipment for military purposes.

An X-ray will also be available at the sanatorium of Sigueneau under the authority of the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP).

It was also decided to extend until the end of March 2013 the GSDF troops stay in Haiti [whose departure was scheduled in 1 month] due to extensive damage caused by the passage of Sandy last October.

HL/ HaitiLibre