JEN‘s team in Ishinomaki reported that it had divided up into four groups that were focusing on removing mud, providing hot meals, addressing emotional needs, and providing mobile relief services. The most urgent of these tasks is mud removal. The tsunami left wide swaths of … Read more
Peace Winds Japan has been examining medium- to long-term needs in the region and is currently working on plans in two areas: (1) supplying household items for those who are moving into temporary residences, and (2) providing play spaces where children and caregivers can play, and … Read more
On April 2–3, JEN brought its third shipment of relief supplies to Ishinomaki (Miyagi Prefecture), providing clothing donated by UNIQLO as well as other supplies donated from around the country. They have assisted more than 2,000 people in that town to date. Among the donated … Read more
If you take a ferry from Ishinomaki (Miyagi Prefecture) and sail for about two hours, you will reach a small island called Ajishima, home to about 500 people, most of whom are elderly. The tsunami hit the island before it had gathered full strength, but as … Read more
AMDA reports that it will start supporting the rehabilitation of schools in the region. To start, AMDA is preparing “back-to-school” kits containing stationery and school bags. AMDA is also helping the local economy by employing 12 local residents as drivers, caregivers, and operational staff. They are … Read more
JEN is calling for volunteers to help in the effort to help in the sludge removal efforts, to distribute cleanup kits (rubber gloves, rubber boots, masks, shovels, buckets, etc.), and to prepare warm meals as it continues to assist and survey the conditions around Sendai … Read more
AMDA has been continuing to provide medical treatment in Otsuchi (Iwate Prefecture), where they report that the common ailments are chronic high blood pressure, diabetes, colds, hay fever, gastroenteritis, tetanus, and so on. Partition walls have recently been provided to give those in evacuation centers some … Read more
JEN has been serving warm meals to people who are “in-home evacuees” in Ishinomaki. Since April 7, they have been serving 100 lunches and 50 dinners each day. These meals are being prepared by a group of volunteers who rushed to the region from Kobe, … Read more
Various sources indicate that Japan has experienced over 900 aftershocks with about 60 over magnitude 6.0 and three over magnitude 7.0. Also in the news on the 12th was the announcement by the Japanese government that the nuclear crisis was even more serious than previously indicated. It … Read more
In order to break up the monotony for the children in Otsuchi evacuation centers, an Association of Medical Doctors of Japan (AMDA) volunteer organized a “Field Trip to the Self-Defense Forces Garrison,” where they met members of the SDF who came from Hokkaido to help … Read more