Just days after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck, JCIE began documenting the work being done by NGOs in the region. For nearly two years—through December 2012—we provided short updates on our website that offered a glimpse into the day-to-day activities being undertaken to provide relief, support, and healing for those affected by the disaster.
These updates focused on the work done by the grantees of the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund, whether through our funding or through support from other sources. Together, they form a journal that offers a unique look at how NGOs engage in post-disaster assistance in the initial phases and how their work shifts over time.
These posts are on the initial two years. Information from January 2013 on is available on our 3/11 Disaster Relief & Recovery Facebook page.
The Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) Japan has been carrying out a project to improve the sanitary conditions in evacuation centers in Ishinomaki and Minamisanriku (Miyagi Prefecture), where approximately 1,000 evacuees are still residing. As temperatures and humidity levels have risen, AAR found that … Read more
On July 24, the Japan Times reported that the current death toll from the March 11 quake and tsunami is now 15,616, with nearly 5,000 people still missing. It also reported that there have been 570 possible “related deaths” in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima, such as seniors … Read more
On July 15, a ceremony was held to hand over the final donations from Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) for the reopening of the Ofunato fish market. PWJ has been working in partnership with an American aid organization, Mercy Corps, on this initiative to provide equipment … Read more
Summertime in Japan is a time for local festivals, many of which have traditions that date back centuries.There were doubts as to whether some of these festivals would be held in light of the tragic events. One of the region’s most colorful events, for example, … Read more
The Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) has been helping repair and rebuild more than 50 facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities that were damaged in the March 11 disaster. The application and approval process for getting government funding for repairs takes a … Read more
The head of the Tohoku Office of the Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) Japan has participated in many “cluster meetings” while providing aid abroad. These meetings are intended to promote collaboration among international agencies, national governments, local governments, and international and domestic NGOs, in order … Read more
As part of its efforts to support the children in Tohoku, Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) have been conducting a “school for play.” The program targets elementary and middle school children and tries to get them out of the shelters, temporary housing, or daycare so that … Read more
JCIE’s managing director, Hideko Katsumata, travelled to Tohoku last week to meet with potential recipients of the long-term recovery portion of JCIE’s Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund. Ms. Katsumata visited Kamaishi and Miyako—two port towns where many of the vivid videos the world … Read more
In August, the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) carried out a sports exchange in Okayama Prefecture. The program brought 46 junior high school soccer players aged 12–15 and 6 teachers representing 3 different schools in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. In addition, 123 students … Read more
In the central section of the Oshika Peninsula are 5 coastal fishing villages, Takenohama, Makinohama, Kitsunezakihama, Sudachi, and Fukkiura. These villages are tucked along the coastline, well off of the main highway that runs along the peninsula, and the roads connecting them to the highway … Read more