ニュース 2010/04/15 Japanese Ambassador to Dominican Republic and Haiti explains situation in Haiti On April 15, a meeting to hear a report regarding the situation in Haiti following the earthquake, given by Japanese Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Nobutaka Shinomiya, was hosted by Yukihisa Fujita, Director General of the DPJ International Department and leader of the DPJ Haiti Earthquake Aid Needs Assessment Mission. DPJ Administration Committee Chair Tenzo Okumura gave an opening address at the meeting, which was also attended by members of the House of Representatives Fumihiko Igarashi, Chair of the House Special Committee on Disasters, and Nobuhiko Suto, member of the DPJ Haiti Earthquake Aid Needs Assessment Mission, and member of the House of Councillors Yumiko Himei. Ambassador Shinomiya explained the current situation in Haiti, saying that although it had taken time in comparison to other disaster-afflicted countries, Haiti, thanks to the international assistance given by Japan and other countries, had now reached a point where aid efforts were shifting from “emergency aid” to “reconstruction aid”. He said that the earthquake had provided an opportunity for the world to become aware of the existence of Haiti, and said that he would like the next question, that of how reconstruction aid should be carried out, to be considered in conjunction with the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations. The meeting was also attended by 13 Japan-based NGOs active in Haiti, including the Japan Platform and Haiti Tomo no Kai (Friends of Haiti: tentative translation), and following the Ambassador’s briefing, a vigorous question and answer session took place.