I was taken by surprise at the immense response from the people in the Philippines to an entry posted on 14 November, 2013 on the English language Facebook of the Prime Minister's Office of Japan regarding the dispatch of the Japan Disaster Relief Team to the Philippines. Astoundingly, the number of "shares" surpassed 30,000 and the number of "likes" reached roughly 70,000. I felt very acutely the enormousness of people's expectations towards Japan.

We are providing medical treatment on the islands of Leyte and Cebu and transporting supplies to the ravaged areas by airplane. There are already about 100 Japanese conducting relief activities. They will soon be joined by approximately 900 members of the Self-Defense Forces, who are now aboard a ship headed for the Philippines.

We need to help each other when times are tough. We will face up to this disaster united in our thoughts with the people of the Philippines and the people of the countries extending support.

For further details on Japan's emergency assistance in response to Typhoon Damage in the Central Philippines, please see the link below.

Typhoon Damage in the Central Philippines