Japan-based nongovernmental organizations engaged in humanitarian assistance have asked the government to ease restrictions on travel to conflict zones, NGO members said Sunday.

The NGOs argue that their activities are being hampered because the government treats their travel requests in the same way as those from regular travelers. Travel has become harder for NGO workers following hostage-taking incidents involving Japanese nationals in recent years.

An NGO representative made the request during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry on April 19 and in letters sent Wednesday to political parties.