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President Mori Meets with Development Partners to Clarify Emergency Situation

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): December 29, 2008 - After calling for the Emergency Task Force to convene on December 22^nd, President Mori contacted the Embassies of China, U.S., Japan and Australia to bring them together and inform them of the emergency situations in all four of the FSM States.

Due to short notice, one meeting could not be scheduled and instead each Ambassador met with the President and representatives of the Emergency Task Force separately. China and the U.S. came in on December 24^th. Japan visited on December 26^th, and Australia on December 29^th. In each of these meetings, the President explained the situation and the immediate needs of the people in the affected areas. Director Andrew Yatilman, Chairman of the Emergency Task Force, filled in the details on the tidal surge event and what has been done to assess the damage and needs of the affected islanders.

So far, there have been positive responses from all the governments. As supplies and financial assistance come in it will be allocated properly so that there is no redundancy in how the aid monies are being spent.