Japanese protesters gathered in Tokyo on Monday to voice opposition to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push for military expansion and constitutional revision, demanding that the country's pacifist Constitution be preserved.
Protesters gathered in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, holding banners with anti-war messages.
"When the Takashi administration came to power, it attempted to lead Japan down a path that was completely against the will of the people and contrary to their expectations. This is unacceptable. I firmly oppose the constitutional amendment that the Liberal Democratic Party is currently promoting. This is not at all aimed at making the people's lives better, but rather at making Japan a country capable of waging war," said a protester.
"It is truly deplorable that Japan, which has caused tremendous harm to many Asian countries, now intends to amend its pacifist constitution. I think Japan should face up to, acknowledge, and apologize for the crimes it has committed," said another protester.
Kyodo News reported on Thursday that Japan is considering revising its National Security Strategy by the end of the year to include exceptions to its Three Non-Nuclear Principles, potentially allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons during an emergency.
Protesters expressed strong concern and firm opposition regarding this.
"I think this is extremely absurd. Any attempt (by the Takaichi administration) to make changes to the principles would be a huge mistake," said a protester.
"Under no circumstances should Japan acquire nuclear weapons. Proposals regarding nuclear-powered submarines are even more preposterous," said another protester.
Japanese citizens rally against military expansion, constitutional revision
Heavy rain in Gaza over the weekend killed several civilians, including an infant who drowned in flooding, the United Nations said Monday, warning that even moderate storms can have catastrophic consequences because of the lack of shelter and equipment.
The rains, which began on the evening of Nov 6, exposed the fragility of shelters, triggered widespread flooding, damaged humanitarian facilities and learning spaces, and disrupted essential services, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Speaking at a daily press briefing, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said that an infant reportedly drowned in the flooding and three children and at least one woman were killed when a sand dune collapsed onto their tents. Thousands of families have lost their shelters and belongings, he said.
UN humanitarian agencies and their partners have been pumping water from flooded camps, improving drainage, reinforcing displacement sites with sandbags and distributing emergency supplies. However, Haq said the response remains hampered by "far too little equipment and too few shelter materials" to meet the scale of need.
Speaking from Ramallah, Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov said rain is natural, but people's vulnerability is man-made. Most people are living in worn-out tents that could not withstand what would be considered a moderate storm elsewhere, he said.
"This is, again, [as he mentioned] what would be regarded as moderate rainstorms elsewhere in the world, but because of the lack of equipment, because of the lack of resources and housing that can withstand this sort of shock, these are rainstorms that can have a catastrophic effect, including, as you just pointed out, on children," Haq said.
Alakbarov called for the urgent lifting of unnecessary restrictions and delays, including those preventing humanitarian organizations from bringing enough vacuum trucks, mobile dewatering pumps, heavy machinery, engine oil, spare parts, tents, tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, blankets and winter clothing into Gaza.
He also called for urgent humanitarian funding, without which the humanitarian community cannot buy enough supplies.
The UN also said strikes continue to hit populated areas of Gaza and cause further casualties.
UN warns of worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza after heavy rains
