[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 4 (Monday, January 30, 1995)]
[Page 93]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress on Disaster Assistance to Japan

January 20, 1995

To the Congress of the United States:

    I have directed the Secretary of Defense to provide appropriate 
disaster assistance to the Government of Japan in response to the 
devastating earthquake of January 17, 1995. As required by section 404 
of title 10, United States Code, I am notifying the Congress that the 
United States commence disaster relief operations on January 18, 1995, 
at 11:06 p.m., eastern standard time. To date, the U.S. military has 
provided 37,000 blankets. In addition, the following information is 
provided:
    1. Disaster relief assistance is being provided in response to an 
      earthquake affecting Kobe and Osaka, Japan.
    2. Reports indicate at least 3,100 people have died, nearly 900 are 
      missing, over 16,000 are injured, and an estimated 240,000 are 
      homeless. The destruction of basic physical infrastructure poses a 
      threat to the lives of the survivors.
    3. Currently, U.S. military involvement has been limited to 15 U.S. 
      Air Force C-130 Hercules sorties. Further requests for U.S. 
      military assistance in the form of transportation, supplies, 
      services, and equipment are unknown at this time.
    4. Switzerland is providing search and rescue dog teams. Assistance 
      by other countries is unknown.
    5. Anticipated duration of disaster assistance activities is 
      unknown.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
January 20, 1995.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
January 23.