Japan Press Weekly

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2011 April 13 - 19 [GREAT EAST JAPAN DISASTER]

Iwate prefectural assembly chair asks JCP’s assistance in relief and reconstruction

Two top assembly members of Iwate Prefecture, one of the prefectures hit by the Great East Japan Disaster, on April 13 visited Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi at the JCP head office to ask JCP for cooperation to relieve residents and to reconstruct communities.

In the meeting, Iwate Prefectural Assembly Chair Sasaki Ichiei pointed out the need to establish a new system of providing government subsidies to disaster-hit prefectures so that these prefectures can use subsidies depending on their needs. He also said that financial assistance for sufferers should be the starting point in the reconstruction and that a fund to support disaster victims’ livelihoods should be created.

Sasaki said that in order to build temporary dwellings without delay, full support from the government is essential.

Ichida in his response said that the JCP will put all its efforts into giving support to those enduring hardships caused by the disaster, to rebuilding communities, and to helping the agriculture and fisheries industries as well as small- and medium-sized businesses. He also said that the JCP will urge the government to construct temporary housing without delay.

Ichida reported that when the JCP on March 31 demanded an increase in the payment of individual compensation from the present limit of three million yen, Prime Minister Kan agreed and said, “It’s necessary.”

Sasaki said, “As well as a recovery in employment situation, an expansion of individual compensation is our urgent demand.”