JCP and citizens encouraging victims of Miyagi earthquake

The Japanese Communist Party and volunteer workers are taking part in activities to help the earthquake-hit areas in the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture in Northeast Japan. The earthquakes began July 26.

Miyagi Prefectural Federation of Farmers Movement (Nominren) volunteers went to the disaster area, and they were especially welcomed by families with elderly and single-members. Nominren's experiences in the Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake were useful in the latest case.

The JCP Dietmembers group on July 28 established a special team headed by Matsumoto Zenmei, House of Representatives member. Soon after the earthquake, Miyagi's JCP members have been vigorously engaged in relief activities, and research on after-effects.

The JCP Dietmembers team on July 29 urged the Koizumi Cabinet's minister in charge of disaster countermeasures to immediately designate the area as a site with devastating damage that needs special state assistance.
No one was killed in the earthquake, but 569 people were injured as at July 27. Over 2,000 people have taken shelters because of the aftershock lasting for several days.

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo on July 28 sent telegrams of sympathy to victims in the affected towns in Miyagi. (end)