March 10, 2014
Japan
The Bishop Isao Kikuchi, SVD, the president of Caritas Japan, sent a message to all national Caritas organisations, including the Czech one, in which he is writing about the third anniversary of the enormous earthquake and the tsunami wave in eastern Japan. He expressed regret over the dismal situation of almost three thousand inhabitants who still cannot return to their homes. Here is his letter.
Dear friends,
It has been three years since the massive earthquake and the tsunami wave which struck and devastated the area of Tohoku in eastern Japan and changed the lives of many people in the country. More than seventeen thousand lives were lost.
After the disaster, in the middle of the chaotic result of this massive destruction of daily life, we started to be optimistic and believe in possible renewal. We thought that with regard to the economic power and technological progress of the country, three years would be enough for the area struck by the disaster to come back to normal life.
Unfortunately, it did not happen. More than 270 people still cannot return to their homes. Most of them thus live in temporary shelters. No one really knows the current state of the damaged reactors in the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, although during international meetings, the prime minister made a statement that everything is under control.
The affected area is under the administration of the Catholic diocese of Sendai and its activities to renew the area are permanently supported by Caritas Japan. All Catholic Church communities in Japan cooperate in order to support the work of the Sendai diocese. In February this year, we, the Japanese Catholic Bishops, came to the conclusion that we would continue in the effort of mobilising all Catholic communities in Japan for the next three years. We have committed the Catholic Church in our country to continue helping the inhabitants of the affected areas as long as it is needed. Thus, we also need your ongoing support and your prayers.
On this occasion, I would like to thank all our friends in the Caritas family for your generous support and prayers for Japan. As I have mentioned above, while I wholeheartedly thank you, I am also obliged to express our plea for your continued aid to people from the afflicted areas, who are unable to regain their hope for future and who live in the darkness of loss and despair.
Thank you very much for your generosity, God bless you.
Bishop Isao Kikuchi, SVD
President of Caritas Japan
