Geneva/ 03 September 2014/ Qatar Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva participated today in the seminar which was organized by the Permanent Mission of Japan in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction on the Recovery and Reconstruction of FUKUSHIMA" The seminar aimed at highlighting the efforts made for the recovery and reconstruction of FUKUSHIMA after the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, in addition to the exchange of information and best experiences of Japan in responding to this disaster. The speakers at the seminar referred to the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that hit eastern Japan in 2011, which caused heavy losses in lives, massive destruction in infrastructure, and a risk to human health and sources of livelihood. They stressed the importance of international cooperation to mobilize national and local efforts in disaster risk reduction, and to develop strategies, plans and policies of regional and international organizations to assist the affected countries to recover from the effects of natural disasters. Addressing the seminar HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva Faisal bin Abdullah Al Henzab said that Qatar has close historical and distinguished ties with Japan which had begun since 1972, the date of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Despite the geographical distance, but the Qatari people had lived the friendly Japanese people suffering in this disaster. " , HE Ambassador Al Henzab added. He also said that " with a view towards helping the Japanese people recover from this disaster, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani launched in 2012, the Initiative of Qatar Friendship Fund (QFF) at USD 100 million for the purpose of reconstruction of areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami suffered by East Japan in 2011, with focus on education as one of the most important sector to be supported by the Fund, as well as the sectors of fisheries, healthcare, science and technology, scientific research and entrepreneurship. "