JAPAN: The Head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, and World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, visit disaster areas in Sendai, north-east Japan

Record ID: 466662

  • Title: JAPAN: The Head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, and World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, visit disaster areas in Sendai, north-east Japan
  • Date: 11th October 2012
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
  • Embargoed: 26th October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: International Relations,Economic News,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2OYMQAUUS05LQGG2R4MHIZXE6
  • Story Text: A delegation including the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Wednesday (October 10) paid a visit to Sendai in north-east Japan, which was devastated by the tsunami last year.
    The World Bank said more than 19,000 people were killed or missing, and infrastructure totalling $200 billion was damaged or destroyed.
    Delegates listened to the Arahama Primary School principal speak about the day when the school held steady against the tsunami and saved lives, as the surrounding areas were decimated.
    Delegates visited an elevated park where the surrounding areas were engulfed by the raging waters.
    An environmental ministry official explained to the delegation the steps being taken to deal with the damage.
    Both Kim and Lagarde said they were impressed by the spirit the Japanese had shown in light of the disaster.
    "The solidarity shown here, if we can have that kind of solidarity every day for all the countries that struggle under disasters like this, then I think the world will be a much better place," said Kim.
    "Feeling of sorrow but at the same time, when you listen to the guy explaining how they go about reconstructing and dealing with all the damage and trying to be positive about it, it's just very very impressive, so it's a mixture of both sorrow and huge admiration for what they're doing," Lagarde said.
    This week, Japan is scheduled to host the IMF and World Bank annual meetings for the first time in nearly half a century. About 20,000 people are expected to attend the event, making it one of the world's largest international conferences.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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