By Miyoko Ishigami (with photos)
SENDAI, Japan, June 3 (KUNA) -- Kuwait on Monday donated 16 electronic whiteboards to schools in Japan's disaster-stricken Miyagi Prefecture, as its latest effort to assist in the country's post-quake reconstruction process.
During a donation ceremony held at Miyagi Prefecture Board of Education in the northern city of Sendai, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi presented a catalogue of electronic whiteboards to Superintendent of Education Hitoshi Takahashi.
The electronic whiteboards, purchased with a relief fund derived from Kuwait's considerable crude oil donation in the wake of the 2011 March quake-tsunami disaster, are provided to eight new elementary and junior high schools, two for each school.
The eight schools were recently inaugurated in four cities along the tsunami-ravaged coastline as a result of the merger of affected neighboring schools.
In his meeting with Takahashi after the ceremony, the ambassador attached great importance to the reconstruction of schools and support for the children of Miyagi, hoping that those affected children will overcome the difficulties and grow up to be strong adults.
Referring to his first visit to the prefecture soon after the 2011 disaster as a show of Kuwait's support for the devastated region, in which he saw the massive destruction, Al-Otaibi voiced pleasure to witness the steady recovery progress in Miyagi, and pledged Kuwait's continued support for the Japanese people during their time of need.
Among northern areas devastated by the magnitude 9.0-quake and ensuing tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing, Miyagi was hit the hardest with some 11,000 victims and 500,000 damaged or destroyed buildings.
Kuwait has extended the donation of 5 million barrels of crude oil to Japan, worth about USD 500 million, by the initiative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Japanese Red Cross Society distributed the value of the free oil to the three hardest-damaged prefectures, with Miyagi receiving the largest share.
For his part, Takahashi said Kuwait's gift gives a great encouragement to children of Miyagi and becomes a good start to deepen friendship between the children of Kuwait and Miyagi.
"On behalf of the eight schools, I thank Kuwait for providing assistance to children. The devastated area is still suffering a lot in the aftermath of the disaster, but this donation gives a big power and motivation to children to go forward to live in the future. I hope children who learn with this electronic whiteboard will someday visit Kuwait and work as a bridge between the two countries," said Takahashi.
Al-Otaibi welcomed this idea, expressing hope that the two sides will implement a project to promote exchanges between the children of the two sides.
Miyagi Prefecture has been putting its allocated share of JPY 16.2 billion (USD 160 million) from Kuwait's contribution on various major reconstruction projects, which have yielded practical and direct benefits to the affected people and communities, such as restoration of aquaculture facilities and tourist facilities, as well as aid for maintenance costs of temporary housing and disaster-hit small- and medium-sized enterprises.
In his previous trip to Miyagi soon after the disaster, the ambassador traveled to the coastal city of Kesennuma, where he encouraged survivors and offered survivors foods, living necessities, school supplies, and 240 soccer balls with the two countries' national flags painted on them, on behalf of the government and the people of Kuwait.(end) mk.wsa KUNA 031115 Jun 13NNNN