Stretched Japan asks EU to coordinate quake relief
Kristalina Georgieva - Photo EC
(BRUSSELS) - Stretched Japanese authorities have asked for European Union relief to be coordinated to ease delivery to the devastated nation, Europe's aid chief said Thursday.
Humanitarian aid commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said that with over half a million people in shelters, the EU stood "ready to provide any help" in the face of requests for blankets, mattresses, water, water tanks, food and tents.
"Given the enormous difficulties in delivering assistance, Japan asked us to coordinate and bring together" relief in Europe, with a team at the other end working hand in hand with the Japanese Red Cross, she said.
"The efficiency of delivery matters more than speed," she said.
"They want anything that comes not to stretch their capabilities."
A team of civil protection experts was readying to fly to Japan to coordinate logistics for European relief, she added.
Croatia meanwhile offered to provide medical help in Zagreb for Japanese nationals exposed to radiation from the quake-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said.
"I will send a letter to Japanese Prime Minister (Naoto Kan) proposing some capacities for treatment in the Zagreb Rebro hospital for people who sufferred from consequences of being exposed to radiation," Kosor told journalists.
Croatia would also offer accommodation in state-run tourist facilities to "certain number of (Japanese) children and mothers with small children in order to help ease their trauma," she added.
The Balkan country will donate to Japan 3.5 million kunas (474,000 euros, 664,000 dollars) through the local Red Cross, Kosor said.
Croatia temporarily moved its embassy from Tokyo to Osaka in the light of Japan's nuclear crisis and urged the estimated 40 Croatian nationals in Japan to leave.