Handover ceremony of 19 emergency vehicles

The ceremony, held in the Great National Assembly Square, was attended by the President of the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Ms. Maia Sandu, Minister of Internal Affairs, H.E. Ms. Daniela Misail-Nichitin, and the Ambassador of Japan to Moldova, H.E. Mr. Yamada Yoichiro, among other high-level officials and dignitaries.

The donation coincided with the celebration of Rescuer’s Day, marked annually on April 5, a day to honor the dedication and courage of Moldova's emergency service personnel.

In her address, President Ms. Maia Sandu expressed deep appreciation for the firefighters and rescuers who successfully carried out nearly 25,000 missions last year. "Thank you for the courage, dedication and tireless work you do in the service of the people. May you always have strength and successful missions," she said.

The President also extended heartfelt thanks to the Japanese Government, emphasizing the importance of international solidarity in strengthening Moldova’s emergency response capacity. "I want to reiterate our gratitude to the Japanese partners for their generous support. This donation means better protection for Moldovan citizens and safer, more efficient missions for our emergency teams,” she stated.

The 19 new emergency vehicles—comprising nine multi-purpose units, eight equipped with 30-meter ladders, and two with 50-meter ladders—will serve approximately 1.3 million citizens across key regions including Chisinau, Bălți, Cahul, Giurgiulești, Ungheni, and Orhei. According to the Moldovan president, the improved infrastructure will help reduce response times in emergencies, ultimately saving more lives.

Minister of Internal Affairs Ms.Daniela Misail-Nichitin praised Japan's contribution, noting that the new equipment will help strengthen Moldova’s resilience to emergencies. “This support helps us to form more resilient, stronger, and faster infrastructure in the face of crises,” she said.

Ambassador Mr. Yamada Yoichiro highlighted that the donation reflects the strong and growing partnership between Japan and Moldova. “Japan is donating 19 emergency vehicles to the Republic of Moldova… This reflects Japan’s commitment to enhancing Moldova’s emergency response capabilities,” he said.

The donation is part of Japan’s ongoing efforts to support Moldova in strengthening disaster risk reduction and building a more resilient society.