Japan-funded Disaster Management Course at the PKO training center in Kenya

I attended a closing ceremony for the disaster management course at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) in Nairobi.  The IPSTC is one of the most prominent PKO training centers in Africa, and Japan has been assisting training programs at the center.  This Japan-funded disaster management course was a 10-day program for both military personnel and civilians who are engaged in disaster relief operations in Kenya.  The Government of Japan sent a course facilitator from the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, and the course was rated highly by the 25 Kenyan participants. 

  

Remarks on the occasion of the closing ceremony for IPSTC's Disaster Management Course (10th Aug, 2012)

[Greetings omitted]

Distinguished Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

It is my honour to attend this closing ceremony of the Disaster Management Course today.  I would like to convey our cordial congratulations to the 25 participants from 19 organizations for your achievement through this course.  I would also like to express our gratitude to the Government of Kenya, IPSTC, UNDP, and JCCP for their dedication and commitment, which have led this course to a success.

As you all know, last March, Japan was hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which recorded a magnitude of 9.0.  This earthquake and the tsunami that followed took away nearly 16,000 lives, while 6,000 got injured and 3,000 are still missing.  More than 70,000 evacuated, and many people still cannot go back to where they used to live.  It was such a heartbreaking and devastating event, but the result could have been even worse without the brave dedication of Japan’s Self Defence Forces, Police officers, fire fighters, and other people who devoted themselves to disaster management and relief operations.  These people removed rubble day and night restlessly.  They managed to transfer injured people despite impassable roads.  And we will never forget the determined men and women who continued sending alarms to let coastal people evacuate until a wave swallowed them.  Indeed, every time Japanese people encounter a major disaster, the reputation of disaster management professionals has increased, and this is one indicator of how capable and skillful Japan’s disaster management teams are.

Japan is a disaster-prone country, and we often lose precious lives in front of the power of nature.  However, we do not just cry over our loss but we learn from tragedies, and we better prepare ourselves against future incidences.  Thus, Japan has become the most prominent country in the field of disaster management with rich knowledge and experience to share.  The Japanese Ground Self Defence Force has contributed in many international disaster management operations, including the ones in Haiti and Indonesia.  And we think that it is our duty as well as our pleasure to share what we have with other countries to prevent and mitigate the damage of disaster. 

With this regard, we are pleased to provide this Disaster Management Course at the IPSTC to the participants like you who are to become leading figures of disaster management in your country.  This course is the 5th course to be financed under Japan’s funding for the Phase II project at the IPSTC, and for the first time, we sent a lecturer from the Ministry of Defence to the IPSTC.  As you know, one of your instructors, Col. Ishibashi is Director of the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center, a Japanese organization similar to the IPSTC.  I am sure you all enjoyed Col. Ishibashi’s course on case studies of Haiti and Indonesia.

Through the 10-day course, which ends today, I believe that you have acquired practical skills that will enable you to contribute to disaster management initiatives.  I also believe that you will share what you have learned here with your colleagues.

In closing my remarks, I wish all the best for each and every participant for your work in a respective position.