What is the situation in Japan one year on from the
earthquake?
11 March 2012 marks the one year anniversary of the 9.0
magnitude earthquake that struck the northeast coast of Japan,
triggering a devastating tsunami that left 20,000 people dead or
missing and 400,000 displaced. During the first year of its
response, World Vision has helped more than 147,000 people in the
Miyagi and Iwate prefectures - two of the hardest hit areas -
thanks in part to the generosity of Kiwis who donated over $635,000
to World Vision's Japan appeal.
Issues faced: Earthquake, tsunami, emergency
relief, disaster risk reduction, long-term rebuilding.
Focus areas: Miyagi, Iwate and Niigata
prefectures in northeast Japan.
How is World Vision helping earthquake survivors?
World Vision's initial emergency response included providing
relief items such as blankets, food, water and medical support, and
establishing community kitchens and child-friendly spaces in
evacuation centres. The last of the seven child-friendly
spaces set up in the Miyagi Prefecture will close on 22 March
2012.
From July 2011 onwards, World Vision moved into the second phase
of its emergency response (recovery and rehabilitation). Our
response efforts during this phase have included:
- Distributing school materials and equipment to 7450 children in
50 local schools
- Providing nutritious meals for 1170 children, teachers and
staff in six schools
- Helping rebuild a large freezer warehouse, benefiting up to
26,000 fishermen
- Providing 12 boats used collectively among 820 local fishermen
in Minami Sanriku
- Distributing booklets on how to improve living conditions in
temporary shelters for 22,600 households
- Providing non-food items such as blankets and medical support
for 20,170 people
- Supplying cooking facilities for 740 people in evacuation
centres
- Providing special assistance to 4380 people relocated from
Fukushima because of the nuclear emergency, including distributing
non-food items, supporting a community outreach project and hosting
a summer camp for children
- Planning to provide disaster preparedness equipment at
designated evacuation centres for 80,000 people, and access to
emergency radios, disaster mapping etc., which could benefit more
than 130,000 people (note: these projects are still underway)
World Vision will continue to work with the worst affected
communities to rebuild their lives until 30 March 2014. Leading up
to this date, we will begin transitioning our programmes over to
local partners/non-profit organisations.
How can I help other disaster survivors?
World Vision was able to fully fund its emergency and
rehabilitation response plan in Japan thanks to the amazing
generosity of supporters from New Zealand and around the world.
However, you can help us respond immediately to any other future
disasters around the world by donating to our Children in
Crisis Emergency Fund or starting a monthly donation today by
calling
0800 90 5000.
Restoring fishing industry gives families back their livelihoods
A fisherman in Minami Sanriku uses a small boat provided by World Vision to cultivate wakame (seaweed).
In Kesennuma city in Japan's Miyagi Prefecture, 80 per cent of
people depend on the fishing industry for their livelihoods. After
the earthquake and tsunami, these fishing communities were left
shattered. Not only had many people lost family members, friends
and homes, they'd also lost their only source of income.
World Vision has been working with fishing communities to help
fishermen return to their jobs and provide for their families. This
has included getting the area's large freezer warehouse facility
back up and running so fishermen can once again store and freeze
their marine products.
In Minami Sanriku, where nearly all of the fishing boats in the
town were destroyed in the tsunami, World Vision has provided small
boats to help fishermen cultivate wakame (seaweed), as
well as seaweed processing machines.
"By providing assistance to both areas, we've been able to
contribute to keeping the economy going, and thus recover
livelihood for those who lost their jobs to the tsunami," said
Ryochiro Mochizuki of World Vision Japan.
World Vision Works: Helping Japan Recover and Rebuild
Key Facts:
- 20,000 lives lost
- 400,000 people displaced
- More than 800,000 homes completely or partially destroyed
- World Vision will continue to help rebuild affected communities
until March 2014
Highlights:
- Generous Kiwis donated over $635,000 to World Vision's Japan
appeal.
- World Vision responded with emergency relief supplies,
including food, shelter, medical support, water and blankets.
- More than 147,000 people were helped in the Miyagi and Iwate
prefectures - two of the hardest hit areas.
- Seven child-friendly spaces were set up to help children feel
safe and where they could express their emotions
appropriately.
- Livelihood recovery programmes were started in hard-hit fishing
communities.
Read more about World Vision's
work in our Annual Report
2011
(
16mb)