About the Great East Japan Earthquake – Message from JFD President Fujisaburo Ishino

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The Japanese Federation of the Deaf has launched the “Central Headquarters for Disaster Relief for Deaf People in the Great East Japan Earthquake“. We also prepare to establish the regional headquarters (set in prefectures) in northeast area. We deeply appreciate your cooperation and support so that we can overcome this hardship.

About the Great East Japan Earthquake

13th March 2011
Fujisaburo Ishino
President, Japanese Federation of the Deaf
Chief of Central Headquarters for the Disaster Relief for Deaf People
in the Great East Japan Earthquake

Two days have passed since the mega earthquake. We express our deepest sympathy to the victims of the Earthquake and Tsunami. We also send our highest respect to the enduring efforts by municipals, Self Defense Force, Police, Fire Department, Japan Coast Guard and related organizations for the rescue the victims of the earthquake.

Aftershocks of the earthquake still continue in Aomori, Miyagi, Iwate, Fukushima, and Ibaraki Prefectures, where people are in the midst of the tremendous damage. Deaf people and sign language interpreters in Tohoku (Northeast) area are still facing continuous aftershocks and are under great tension and fear.

Many supports to meet individual needs are demanded: ensuring the safety of the victims, securing their housing to their own homes and temporary residences from evacuation centers, and supporting them to return to the ordinary daily lives in peace. The Japanese Federation of the Deaf continues gathering information and supports deaf people and sign language interpreters. We would appreciate your support and cooperation.

We received many condolences from the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and other organizations in several countries. We are very grateful to these warm words by learning that we are being supported by many colleagues around the world.

We also wish to announce that sign language interpretation for the press conference by the Prime Minister and His Cabinet has started since 12:00 p.m. March 13th. Please share this information to as many people as possible.

We cordially ask you to refrain from contacting directly to the disaster-stricken area about donation and volunteer. Please find information on where to send donations here. We will put information about volunteers on our website as soon as we can.

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