12/25/2012
H.E. Mr. Al-Otaibi, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Japan Received Mayor of Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture

H.E. Mr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Otaibi, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Japan received Mr. Kimiaki Toda, Mayor of Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture at his office in the Embassy.

Upon greeting, Mr. Toda expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Government of the State of Kuwait and its people for having extended aids and donations to Ofunato City and the other areas that have suffered from the massive loss and damages due to the East Japan Great Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011.

Then H.E. Mr. Al-Otaibi raised questions on the reconstruction process of the city whose calamities were as severe as 340 killed and 80 missing, that is about 1 percent of the total population, and total 5,530 houses damaged, out of the number 2,787 were completely broken. Mr. Toda explained that about 250 restoration projects are ongoing currently, including the relocations of the housings. Mr. Toda expressed his firm determination not to yield another tragedy in the city by implementing new precaution measures against future tsunami disaster.

H.E. Mr. Al-Otaibi was impressed by the principles of the restoration schemes briefed by Mr. Toda and encouraged Mr. Toda and the city residents to overcome the misery at the soonest timing and wished for the brighter future of the city. Mr. Toda expressed his gratitude once again and the two bowed for further cooperation and friendship between the State of Kuwait and Ofunato City.