Finland awarded 400,000 euros in aid for earthquake victims in China

Press release 465/2008
12 December, 2008

By decision of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen, on Friday, 12 December, Finland granted the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) the sum of 400,000 euros, to be used for psychosocial support of victims of the earthquake that struck Sichuan Province, China.

Finland reacted quickly to the intense earthquake, 8.0 on the Richter scale, that occurred in Sichuan on 12 May 2008 by sending humanitarian aid to the affected area; the aid was supplied through the Finnish Red Cross and the International Red Cross organisations. The assistance to be provided now supplements the aid given previously and supports the area’s reconstruction process.

The aid agreement was signed on Friday at the Embassy of Finland in Beijing by Antti Kuosmanen, Finland’s Ambassador to China, and Bernard Coquel, Head of UNFPA China.

The aid granted by Finland ensures the continuation of psychosocial crisis assistance in the worst affected areas for the next year. It is targeted at the most vulnerable population groups, such as older people, children and women.

Additional information: Counsellor Leena Liira, Embassy of Finland in Beijing, tel. +86 10 8519 8314, and Counsellor Annikki Arponen, Unit for Asia and Oceania, tel. +358 9 1605 6409