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The University of Macau (UM) has confirmed that the 20 UM students studying in Japan on exchange programme were all safe in the devastating earthquake and tsunami. In addition to providing them all the help necessary for their daily living and studying, UM has also set up an Emergency Task Force. Hitherto, eight UM students have returned home.

These students were in Japan over different places at the time of the disaster. Most of them were studying in Tokyo while the rest in Akita, Kagoshima, Kyoto, Okinawa and Nagoya. The university has promptly used all the means possible in the wake of the disaster to keep in contact with the UM students there to learn whether they were safe and whether their daily life and their lodgings were affected.

In response to the disaster, UM has set up an Emergency Liaison Group to offer all kinds of help possible to the students. Through this Group, students were not only warned of the possible aftershocks, they were also reminded of the importance of the adequate supply of water and food. Besides, the students were also given the emergency contact numbers of UM and the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan. Meanwhile, UM has requested the partnering institutions in Japan to provide as much support as possible to the UM students. Moreover, UM is now being in close contact with the Japanese Consulate-General in Hong Kong and cooperate with it on any arrangements of the Japanese exchange students studying in UM.

In the meantime, UM will also keep a close eye on the situation as radiation leakage unfolds and continue to provide help and support to the students in Japan for their daily living and studying. Students who wish to put the study there on hold and want to return to Macao earlier should contact UM. Their cases will be treated as special cases.

In view of the gravity of the situation, academic staff and students of UM are strongly advised to suspend any exchange activities in Japan for the time being.

The Emergency Task Force has set up a 24-hour emergency hotline (+853 6285 9231) for students. For exchange students, they can contact Ms. Chan on +853 8397 8230 or email at conniec@ umac.mo.

If any students feel that they are in need of psychological counseling because of the disaster , they can contact the psychological counseling unit on +853 8397 4681 or email sas.consellors@um.edu.mo. For general inquiry, please contact the University at +853 8397 4306 or email gao.enquiry@um.edu.mo.


Finally, UM would like to extend our sympathies and condolences to the family members of those victims of this once-in-a- century disaster.