• 
• 

[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the eleventh meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters for the Earthquake Centered in the Kumamoto Region of Kumamoto Prefecture 2016 at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, reports and discussions were held on the situation pertaining to damage and the response of each ministry and agency.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

Yesterday and today, among the individuals that we had been unable to contact, three more bodies have been found. I would once again like to express my heartfelt condolences. I would like the operational units engaged in search activities to continue to make every effort, while also taking due care to prevent secondary damage.

Today the response structure will be further strengthened with the dispatch of a further 22 national public employees, in addition to the three persons already there, who will be placed in 18 municipalities that are engaged in diligent assistance efforts for the people affected. The national public employees that have been dispatched have been quick to relay specific information based on the opinions of the people affected, and the Government is advancing the necessary measures on the basis of this information. It is imperative for the Government to continue to share the latest information on the things that are needed now and use this as the basis for making an accurate response.

For example, in cooperation with local governments affected by the earthquake we are working to provide antiallergenic food and milk for children with food allergies.

The people affected have already spent six days in evacuation centers and I want due care and attention to be paid to people who need our consideration, including women, the elderly, children and persons with disabilities.

In order to speedily advance such emergency assistance to the people affected, today the Cabinet approved the use of 2.3 billion yen in emergency funds. These funds will be used to procure the supplies that are needed.

The people affected have been placed in physically and mentally harsh conditions. It is essential that measures be accelerated to ensure that these people can move to locations where they can have greater peace of mind as soon as possible.

As an emergency interim measure until living environments are created, ferries that are capable of providing bathing facilities, food and accommodation will be promptly utilized as evacuation centers. These ferries have already departed from Kobe Port and are scheduled to arrive at Yatsushiro Port tomorrow afternoon. The Government intends that these vessels should be quickly made available for the use of people affected.

In terms of assessing the damage situation, I want every effort to be made towards the swift designation of the earthquake as a ‘Disaster of Extreme Severity.’ To this end, in addition to waiting for reports from local governments, the Government will play an active role through local surveys by national public employees and assessment of the damage situation.

I want everyone to continue to listen to the concerns, worries and wishes of all people affected and do everything possible to make a precise response.