September 18&19, 2019

Opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, on September 17 at a directors’ meeting of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Disasters demanded the holding of Diet deliberations on measures to support the recovery of typhoon-affected regions despite the current recess of the Diet.

Nearly ten days have passed since Typhoon No.15 (Typhoon Faxai) hit the Kanto region, and about 41,300 households in Chiba Prefecture are still without electricity and about 7,000 households have no water. According to the prefectural government, the cost of damage to the agriculture and fisheries industries stood at about 26.8 billion yen.

At the committee directors’ meeting, JCP representative Tamura Takaaki pointed out that a prolonged power outage will increase the possibility of cases of deaths from heat-related illnesses. Tamura called for the implementation of necessary measures without delay.

The opposition lawmakers also urged the Abe government to conduct on-site investigations immediately.

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JCP Chair Shii Kazuo, who heads the party’s task force working to meet typhoon victims’ demands, on September 18 submitted to Minister of State for Disaster Management Takeda Ryota a 5-item written request which includes a swift restoration of power in areas struggling with no electricity.

At a press conference after the submission, Shii said that in the wake of Typhoon Faxai, the JCP has been conducting relief activities in Chiba Prefecture and other typhoon-affected areas in collaboration with local JCP organizations. He explained that the party made the request based on investigations that JCP lawmakers together with Shii carried out in the disaster-hit prefecture and on the party’s activities to support disaster victims.

Shii added that the Abe government should implement all necessary measures to provide assistance to disaster-hit regions and people and to prevent disaster-related deaths and illness.