Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) is committing 100 million Yen (about US$1.25 million) and additional essential hard goods to support the immediate disaster relief efforts and critical rebuilding of the affected areas in northern Japan, the areas suffering the greatest loss and devastation caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Japan will receive the funds to support its early response to the tragedy in affected areas as well as long-term work to help devastated communities recover.
"As Chairman of Asia Pulp & Paper Group, I feel a personal responsibility for our organization to support the people of Japan who have been such tremendous partners and friends to us for many years. We share in the responsibility for helping this nation care for its people in the face of this catastrophe and pledge our support to Habitat for Humanity and all those in the organization working tirelessly over the days, weeks and months ahead to help those so tragically affected," said Teguh Ganda Wijaya, APP Chairman.
"We are delighted and very grateful to receive this offer from Asia Pulp & Paper Group, which shows that the world is watching and responding to the dreadful events in northeastern Japan," said Kentaro Yamazaki, national director HFH Japan. "Once access to the affected areas is possible, HFH Japan is planning to mobilize our many local volunteers to assist in clean-up and relief. We will focus on assisting specific communities to rebuild their lives."
"Habitat's response to the earthquake and tsunami could last for up to two years," he said.
In addition to the funds, APP is offering to send urgently needed sanitation products for use in the affected areas in northern Japan in cooperation with local government. These products are currently unavailable in the most immediately affected areas and are important for human health and sanitation.
APP currently supports Habitat for Humanity Indonesia on community development programs, including disaster relief connected to the recent eruption of Mt. Merapi volcano in central Java.
APP brand is supported by a group of global pulp and paper production facilities based in Indonesia and China. APP Japan Limited is the Japanese marketing arm of APP. Based in Tokyo, APP Japan Limited employs 150 people with sales based in four major cities and seven stock bases spread nationwide extending from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
Habitat for Humanity began operating in Japan in 2001. HFH Japan's work focuses on mobilizing volunteers, especially university- and school-age students, to travel overseas to build in Habitat projects. HFH Japan has also raised funds for disaster response activities including supporting Habitat's rebuilding in Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake. For more details, please go to: www.habitatjp.org
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Contacts
APP Japan Ltd.
Noriaki Nagaoka, +81-(0)-3-5217-1101
Fax: +81-(0)-3-5217-1257
n-nagaoka@appj.co.jp
http://www.habitatjp.org