World Vision responds to 9.0 quake in Japan

Updated on March 15, 2011

 

On March 11, Japan was hit by the largest earthquake in its history. The 9.0-magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami swept away entire villages with walls of water more than 30 feet high.

"We are now facing the most tragic [natural] disaster in our country's history," said Kenjiro Ban, World VIsion's humanitarian and emergency affairs manager in Japan. Ban was part of World Vision's quake response in Haiti this past year.

As a child-focused organization, we will focus our efforts on responding to the emotional needs of children.

"We're planning to see how deep the needs are in the affected areas and begin to bring relief to families," said Ban.

'As bad as anything I've seen globally'

A three-person relief team, in Sendai since Monday, has begun procuring water, blankets, and diapers to serve an initial 6,000 people in the city of Tome, some 190 miles from Sendai.

"This situation is, understandably, very chaotic," said Ban.

"I've served on disaster response programs in Kenya, Sudan, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Haiti, and the needs I'm seeing in my own country are as bad as anything I've seen globally."

Child-Friendly Spaces

In addition to providing relief supplies, World Vision also will likely establish Child-Friendly Spaces in the affected areas.

This program provides areas where children can enjoy supervised play and opportunities to express themselves in music, art and dancing. The structure and safety of these spaces protects children from some of the psychological impact of surviving a disaster.

"Last night, I visited one of the shelters housing some 340,000 people who have been evacuated around the city," said Mitsuko Sobata, communications and advocacy officer for World Vision in Japan. "Children are sleeping on cardboard with one blanket in freezing weather. It was very difficult for me to see that. They're tired and afraid, and the tragedy they've endured is overwhelming."

Upcoming plans and funding needs

On Wednesday, the assessment team will travel to Fukushima, where nuclear contamination has forced the evacuations of tens of thousands of people. The assessment will inform how World Vision can best respond to the needs there.

World Vision is appealing for $10 million to fund its response in Japan, which may continue for several years. Currently, World Vision teams plan to focus their attention on providing vital relief supplies and Child-Friendly Spaces, but the program will expand as new assessments are done and staff have a better understanding of the needs.

Please pray

Please keep in prayer the children, families, and communities left devastated by this earthquake, tsunami, and recurring aftershocks.

Help now

Donate now to World Vision's Japan Quake and Tsunami Relief Fund. Your gift will help us rush emergency supplies like life-saving food, clean water, medical supplies, and shelter to those who need it most in the aftermath of the disaster in Japan.

Visit the World Vision Blog to get the latest stories, news, and information about the situation in Japan.