5th report from IAVE's Japan national rep

Dear IAVE fellows, today is one month after a massive earthquake and tsunami, called the “Great Eastern Japan Earthquake”, that occurred at 2:46 p.m. JST on Friday, March 11, 2011. It was recorded 9.0 magnitude. We observed one minute of silent tribute.

Earthquake-Tsunami Toll
The Japanese National Police Agency has confirmed, as of this date, 13,127 deaths, 4,793 injured, and 14,348 people still missing across eighteen prefectures, as well as over 125,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. Still 145,000 people are staying at the evacuation sites and more than 100,000 persons left their hometown and moved to other prefectures where the temporary housing accommodations are offered.

Radiation Hazard at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant
Three nuclear reactors crisis is “extremely serious”. According to the recent government announcement, it rises to “Level 7” this date, the highest degree of risk, ranked same as Nuclear Meltdown broken at Cherunobyl, Ukraine, in 1986. Though we are informed that radiation-contaminant is 10% of the quantity compared to Cherunobyl. Residents are evacuated to other places to prevent them from exposure to radioactivity. Fear is growing among the people under an uncertainty about the solution and the future.

Volunteer Activities on sites
Sharing the information among the Japan Civil Network for Disaster Relief in the East Japan, IAVE Japan is collecting relief money and taking an intermediary role for sending volunteers to review the needs and to respond. In corporation with one constructing company in Nagoya, Eiko Shimada, vice president of IAVE Japan, works for sending 30 employees to Ishinomaki town to help cleaning the mud from the houses and taking off the mountain pile of debris. According to the Ishinomaki Relief Center, over 900 houses are yet covered in mud.

You raise us up!
Thank you for all of the warm-hearted messages. I cannot find any appropriate words how much we are encouraged and ensured the strong bonds of friendship. It is cherry blossom time and its beautiful scenery in full bloom show us tenderness of the nature. It is gradually going up to the north and sure to comfort the victims momentary. April is the month of new school year, too, in Japan.

A mayor of Miyako city, where about 1,700 people are dead or missing, addressed to the residents, saying “The people of Miyako won’t succumb to tsunami. If we stand up with courage and hope, Miyako will soon be restored.” We have to step forward for recovery.

(Photo: Kordian)