 JCP quake relief centers closed The Japanese Communist Party's quake victims relief centers set up in Niigata Prefecture, in the wake of the October 23 massive earthquake, ended their two-month operation on December 28. After opening a center in Nagaoka City on October 26, the JCP set up three more relief centers in Niigata's Ojiya, Uonuma, and Kawaguchi cities, sites heavily affected by the Niigata major earthquake. More than 11,000 volunteers carried out various activities from those centers, including providing quake victims with daily essentials as well as helping them clean and repair their houses and move into temporary shelters. Relief center chief Hayashi Michifumi said that not only JCP members and supporters but also non-affiliated people worked as volunteers in the JCP's relief centers because they were open to anybody who wished to support quake victims. The JCP Niigata Prefectural Committee is planning to open a new center in Nagaoka City to continue relief activities. (end) |