EUROPE AND US:US PRESIDENT Barack Obama spoke to Japanese prime minister Naoto Kan yesterday to offer to help "in any way possible", the Japanese Jiji agency reported.
“The United States stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial . . . The friendship and alliance between our two nations is unshakeable, and only strengthens our resolve to stand with the people of Japan as they overcome this tragedy,” Mr Obama said in a statement.
European Commission president José Manuel Barroso and European Council president Herman Van Rompuy also voiced solidarity. The European Union said Japan had requested search and rescue teams and search dogs.
“Europe’s civil protection system has been fully mobilised to help Japan overcome this immense tragedy,” said Kristalina Georgieva, commissioner for international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response.
The Russian emergency services agency Ermacom offered 40 people with three sniffer dogs, while Singapore had civil defence forces on standby and Poland offered firefighters. China and Switzerland also offered rescue teams, while Britain, France and others said they were ready to offer whatever help was required.
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York: “We will do anything and everything we can at this very difficult time.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross launched a “family links” website to help people seeking to re-establish contact with family members and friends. The website is at icrc.org/eng/familylinks-japan. – (Reuters)