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Message from Prime Minister Naoto Kan Regarding Assistance Received from Overseas

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

I would like to express my most sincere appreciation for the condolences and assistance Japan has received from approximately 130 countries, more than 30 international organizations, and people all around the world in response to the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake.
The rescue workers, search dogs, and nuclear power experts from various countries, as well as the human resources support from the U.S. Forces in Japan and others, assistance with food, medical supplies, blankets, and other supplies, and offers of assistance from over 670 NGOs and other organizations have all been profoundly uplifting to the Japanese people, who have come to realize acutely that "a friend in need is a friend indeed."

Japan faces an unprecedented crisis, in which an incident at a nuclear power plant has transpired in addition to the enormous earthquake and tsunamis. I firmly believe that, receiving such cooperation from the members of the international community, the Japanese people will mobilize their wisdom to recover from these challenging circumstances through their collective efforts and thereby successfully overcome this trying time.

On behalf of the Japanese people, I would like once again to express my deepest appreciation upon having received this truly tremendous outpouring of cordial assistance from around the world.

Naoto Kan

Prime Minister of Japan

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