From the Ambassador: Handover Ceremony in Aufaga Village

Handover Ceremony in Aufaga Village
 
Recently, I visited Aufaga Village, located in southern Samoa, to attend the handover ceremony for the "Project for the Improvement of the Water Supply System in Aufaga Village," which was completed with funding from the Government of Japan's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects.
 
Through this project, a new 100,000-liter water storage tank was constructed, a fence was installed around it, and the water intake system was repaired. These improvements are expected to resolve the previous issue of insufficient water storage capacity, contributing significantly to stable water access and improved public health for the villagers. I wish to express my heartfelt respect to the Aufaga Village Water Committee and the Independent Water Schemes Association for their close collaboration in successfully bringing this project to completion.
 
As I shared in the joy of the ceremony with the people of Aufaga Village, I found myself recalling the history this village has overcome. Exactly 17 years ago, on September 29, 2009, a massive earthquake originating from the oceanic trench south of Samoa triggered a tsunami that caused immense damage to the southern coast of Samoa. Many precious lives were lost across Samoa, and in numerous coastal villages, homes and buildings were completely destroyed. There are even regions where it is recounted that "only the church building remained standing" within the village. Aufaga Village was also one of the villages that suffered such devastating damage.
 
I was deeply moved to learn that, despite such a harsh experience, Aufaga Village is not only striving to improve its basic infrastructure but also actively working on disaster preparedness, especially "readiness" against tsunamis. Coincidentally, on the day before this water supply system handover ceremony, Aufaga Village was recognized as one of 17 villages in Samoa certified as "Tsunami Ready," meeting UNESCO guidelines. In fact, on site, I was able to confirm the presence of signs indicating evacuation routes for residents in case of a tsunami, among other measures.
 
Japan, too, is a nation that has repeatedly suffered immense damage from tsunamis, and we understand the critical importance of disaster "readiness" more deeply than anyone. The efforts of the people of Aufaga Village, who have overcome the tragedy of 2009 and are working with such foresight and dedication to protect their community's safety, offer invaluable lessons and hope not only for us Japanese but for people all over the world.
 
I sincerely hope that this water supply system will strongly support the daily lives and public health of the people of Aufaga Village. Furthermore, I am confident that the disaster "readiness" they have cultivated in parallel will become a solid foundation for the community's future. I sincerely wish for the further development of Aufaga Village and for the bonds between Japan and Samoa to deepen even further.