(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) is continuing operations with 5,100 personnel. First, regarding water supply support. Kumamoto Prefecture has had severe hot weather every day. Today is another exceptionally hot day. In this heat, access to water is critical for people in areas where water outages continue, not only for their daily living but also for sustaining their lives. Yesterday, water supply units provided 412 tons of water at a total of 58 locations in Kumamoto Prefecture. As of yesterday, the cumulative amount of water supplied was approximately 1,539 tons, equivalent to approximately 770,000 people. This corresponds to more than one-third of the population of Kumamoto Prefecture. Today, 87 water tankers and approximately 230 personnel are providing water at a total of 50 locations. Furthermore, in response to shortages of water required for dialysis, yesterday, a total of 223 tons of water was provided to eight hospitals that requested urgent assistance: three in Uki City, one in Uto City, three in Yatsushiro City, and one in Kikuchi City. Today, water is being supplied again to a total of eight hospitals: three in Uki City—Matsuda Hospital, Saiseikai Misumi Hospital, and Sakurajuji Kumamoto Uki Hospital; three in Yatsushiro City—Matsuoka Clinic, Otemachi Clinic, and Kumamoto Rosai Hospital; one in Kikuchi City—Kikuchi Medical Association Hospital; and one in Uto City—Kumamoto Mental Health Hospital. The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) in Kyushu has 11 water purification units, six of which are in Kumamoto Prefecture. The units are capable of supplying water for daily use to support daily life during disasters. For example, when the SDF provides bathing support in the wake of a disaster, the purification units can be used to purify water, which can be used for baths and showers even in places without access to running water or a water intake facility. Next, regarding bathing support. The GSDF and Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) are providing bathing support in four locations: Kumamoto City, Uki City, Yatsushiro City, and Hikawa Town. Yesterday, the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) began providing bathing support using a water-recycling shower system at Hikawa Junior High School in Hikawa Town. Today, the GSDF is making arrangements to begin providing bathing support at the Ogawa Disaster Prevention Center in Uki City, where around 1,000 affected people are staying, and at Uto City Hall in Uto City. This means that bathing support will be available in five municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture. Additionally, as some people have been unable to do laundry due to water outages, the vessel JS BUNGO, berthed at Yatsushiro Port, began offering laundry services and charging facilities for smartphones and other devices since the day before yesterday. Yesterday, JS BUNGO was replaced by the large transport vessel JS KUNISAKI. In addition to the bathing units set up outdoors, baths will be installed onboard JS KUNISAKI as part of our ongoing bathing support. Furthermore, JS KUNISAKI is providing large-scale support by taking advantage of its features as a large transport vessel, including laundry services, charging facilities, health consultations, and a children’s play area. Yesterday, approximately 250 people bathed onboard JS KUNISAKI and in outdoor baths. Beginning today, in order to allow more affected people to use the facilities, the closing time will be extended by one hour, from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Bathing support is currently being provided by all three services: the GSDF, the MSDF, and the ASDF. To ensure that women can use the bathing facilities with peace of mind, female SDF personnel are also deployed. In preparation for disaster relief operations, the SDF had arranged in advance to quickly bring together female personnel from various units to deliver this type of support as quickly as possible. Amid the difficult conditions of evacuation life, SDF personnel on the ground will continue to provide attentive support, hoping to bring a smile to those affected and give them an opportunity to rest physically and mentally in any small way. In addition, in order to reinforce last-mile deliveries to sustain the lives of the affected people amid the extreme heat, units mainly from the GSDF 8th Logistic Support Regiment are delivering 1,100 cases of bottled water to nursing homes and other facilities at 42 locations across nine municipalities, including Yatsushiro City. The affected areas continue to experience extreme heat each day. We will prepare early to maintain sanitary conditions for those affected. Today, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), we began transporting 80 water-recycling shower units from Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture to Vice-Camp Takayubaru in Kumamoto Prefecture on one C-2 transport aircraft and two C-130 transport aircraft of the ASDF. From Vice-Camp Takayubaru, the units will be transported to depots on contracted private-sector vehicles in coordination with METI and other relevant organizations. The installation locations are currently being arranged. Furthermore, in order to provide bathing, accommodation, and meal support on a larger scale, the PFI vessel HAKUOU II is expected to arrive at Yatsushiro Port in the coming days. We will continue to listen carefully to the needs of those affected and prepare early to ensure that water and other daily necessities are delivered where they are needed, when they are needed. We will continue to stand with the affected people. That concludes my update for today.