By Izumi Okuhara

Recently we often hear the word ﾒNGOﾓ on TV or in newspapers. In fact, there are not so many people who understand the activities of NGOs, while the incident about the denial of attendance for an international conference of the recovery and support of Afghanistan appeared.

NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organization, and is called ﾒHi Seifu Soshikiﾓ in Japanese. Namely, this is a volunteer association established by civilians, and the activities are not profitable. There are about 400 associations in Japan. NGOs are connected with overseas cooperation in the fields of development, environment, international cooperation to developing countries, and support in many suffering and devastated areas.

The center of NGOs in Japan takes into consideration the rapid correspondence with intimate exchange of information among each NGO. NGOs have held seminars for volunteers.

As an example of the results of NGO activity in Japan, there is the relief operation in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on January 17, 1995. In spite of great confusion, such as disruption of roads, electricity, gas, and water works, NGOs could practice relief operations quickly. In total, one million volunteers worked. They helped the recovery of Kobe by supporting medical and relief services.

Kensuke Ohnishi, who became famous by the denial problem of NGO, is the ambassador of Peace Wing Japan, which is an organization supporting other countries. Rescue operations by NGOs are indispensable for other countries not having diplomatic relations, because the Japanese government canﾕt help them directly. At present, Peace Wing Japan has worked in more than 50 countries for relief services in natural disasters or troubles. They can go into the field quickly with the contributions by citizens and companies, or financial assistance by the government. However, they are actually confronted by a lot of difficulties, such as lack of funds, securing of talent, and gathering information.

NGOs fill an important role which is different from usual diplomatic relations. The Japanese government can help a country if Japan has diplomatic relations with the country. On the other hand, it is a characteristic of NGOs that they can act in countries not having diplomatic relations. NGOs must go to dangerous countries like Afghanistan, where the Japanese embassy has been closed. Actually, Red Cross and NGO volunteers have conducted rescue operations at the risk of their own lives.

As described above, we can see that NGOs play an important part for rescue operations in the area in which the government canﾕt help. From now, NGOs and the government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should conduct Japanese diplomacy cooperatively. Some may feel that the activities of NGOs donﾕt concern us, because their activities are international. However, they continue to work in order to respond quickly when encountered with disasters. Besides domestic areas, they play important roles in keeping the peace in the whole world. To be compensated for their efforts, it is necessary for NGOs, the government and , the economic community to cooperate with each other. We citizens, as well as the government, are now asked what we should do in assisting countries that require relief.