Emergency Comment on the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake
We express our deepest condolences to those who have lost family members or friends in the Kumamoto earthquake, and extend our sincerest sympathy to all those who have been affected by this earthquake.
It is a concern that the people in the area are still suffering a series of assumed aftershocks that followed the magnitude 7.0 main quake and are living in fear and insecurity. We hope that from now, aid such as rescue of people, aid for livelihood, and restoration of damaged infrastructure would proceed immediately with government agencies such as the disaster countermeasures office taking the lead.
In this regard, we, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), set up an Emergency Headquarters on the day of the earthquake.
During past natural disasters, such as the Great Hanshin/Awaji Earthquake, the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake, the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake, and the Great East Japan Earthquake, the JFBA, together with relevant local bar associations, carried out various support activities such as giving legal counseling, undertaking cases, or calling for the enactment of necessary legislation so that the people in the devastated areas could put their lives back in order.
Based on our experiences from such activities in the past disasters, we will make every effort to aid the victims of this earthquake, working with the Kumamoto Bar Association, the Kyushu Federation of Bar Associations, and other local bar associations, as well as municipalities, the Japan Legal Support Center, and other related entities.
We sincerely hope that rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas could be achieved as quickly as possible. And, for that purpose, the JFBA is resolved to use its utmost efforts to provide legal support to all those who were affected by this earthquake.
April 15, 2016
Kazuhiro Nakamoto
President
Japan Federation of Bar Associations
