April 12, 2011
Long difficult path ahead for Japan recovery
A fourth report on the crisis from A. Seto, IAVE National Representative in Japan: Thank you indeed for your warm and thoughtful messages to us. To express our appreciation, I will send you the updated news as follows:
Reported Figures
Ten (10) days have passed since the earthquake and tsunami. Today’s official report says that 8,649 persons were confirmed dead and still 12,800 are missing, in total of over 21,000 persons. We continue to pray for them from bottom of our heart. Shelters are provided by 10 other prefectures and people moved from their hometown. Even though still 350,000 people are staying at the evacuation sites in the ravaged areas. They are walking around for finding their missing family and lost things with a hope, and also taking care of senior or sick persons, preparing foods voluntarily.
Happy News
In a heartrending after-disaster situation, we received a piece of happy news yesterday that 80 years old lady and 16 yrs grandson, who returned home from his school in Sendai for the spring recess period, were rescued. They both were taking lunch in the kitchen when the earthquake occurred, but soon could not move under the fallen furniture. Fortunately, some drinks in the refrigerator could be reached that made them alive for nine days. On March 20, he could anyhow climbed onto the roof, called for help and finally rescued. Both seems fine except dehydration and hypothermia. Their house was swept away and father could not locate it though he went for searching. Father commented, after visiting his mother and son at the hospital, thinking of other missed people, “We feel happy and sorry at the same time for other people. We talked among us that we should do something for good and help others.”
Radiation Hazard at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant
The huge amount of tons of water dumped on reactors to cool the reactor restlessly by the specially skilled members brought by Self Defense Forces, the Police Dep’t., the Fire Dep’t. and Tokyo Electric Company. So far it is reported successfully worked. On 19th after achieving the first mission, the chief officer of the Tokyo Fire Department answered the TV interview that the important mission has been done owing to a high sense of mission responsibility by the 139 brave members. It was a fight against invisible enemy. Yesterday, some contaminated vegetables and milks are measured but the government assured that it is not the level of health hazardous. More governments, Australia, Britain, Germany, France, Serbia, Croatia, China, Philippines and India, advised their citizens to leave Tokyo and earthquake/tsunami- affected areas to ensure their safety.
Serve Quake Victims First
Fuel, including gasoline and kerosene, and medical product is running extremely short in the north eastern Japan. In the areas hardest hit by the disaster, fuel for delivery trucks is extremely tight, making it difficult to get water, food and other necessities to evacuation shelters. Gradually, the transportation and distribution is reaching out toward the most distant areas and the lifelines as well.
In Tokyo, fuel supply is restricted and sales volume is limited for each person, and the food and commodities are prioritized for help the suffering people. Rolling blackout will be resumed from next day again.
As to the volunteers, waiting for returning of the advance volunteer groups, we will send the next ones to respond the needs and requirement of the victims and also working for their recovering process.
IAVE Japan as a member of the Japan Civil Network for Disaster Relief in the East Japan (called as “Japan Civil Net” in short), we prepared the following message from volunteers addressed to all the persons in the affected areas:
We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in this incredibly rare tragedy
We also express our heartfelt sympathy to all in the difficult circumstances caused by this terrible tsunami and earthquake. We cannot stop thinking how cruel nature can be; it is heartbreaking to imagine how you feel, when you replied “Everything Gone” in an interview.
We realize the situation you are in must be dreadful, and beyond description, much more so than we have heard and seen. We are making every effort to be with you, as soon as possible. We will definitely be with you. We are ready to be at your sides. We will walk this long, difficult path together until your communities have fully recovered.
You have already begun to support each other. Your local officials are doing everything in their power, in spite of their devastation. Policemen, firefighters, and members of the Self-Defense Forces, are all contributing to your affected communities. Media representatives are also reporting on the response to this tragedy. Government officials have already entered the affected areas, readying for future reconstruction. You have friends all over the world, including search and rescue teams, who have responded as well. We, the volunteers, are sure that NEXT WILL BE OUR TURN, IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
We are getting ready to support you, side by side, bearing one message in mind: “Anxiety can cause us to make decisions, while losing sight of the bigger picture. We need to be patient.” This was passed on from a Chuetsu Earthquake survivor, through one volunteer, to those at the Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake.
For those in Japan and abroad, volunteers and victims alike: do not flinch at the colossal scale of this unprecedented devastation. Let us work together in order to reconstruct the lives of each of those affected in this tsunami and earthquake.
Japan has a wonderful tradition of “otagaisama”, let’s help each other out, and also has the invaluable spirit of “kizuna”, human bond, which is getting known internationally. Now is the time to DO SOMETHING for each of us, with a hope in mind that “WE WILL BE WITH YOU UNTIL YOU STAND UP AGAIN”.
March 21, 2011 The Japan Civil Network for Disaster Relief in the East Japan
Rev. Nobuyuki Kurita, Rescue Stock Yard
Mr. Keiji Tajiri, Japan NPO Center
Dr. Mikiko Yamazaki, Tokyo Volunteer Action Center
I would like to add the following that I sent to the NRs this date:
The coastal areas residents of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaragi prefectures, where the towns were completely destroyed and heavily damaged by Tsunami, have been well prepared and trained on a regular basis for disaster prevention. They built a high wall of breakwater along the coastal line, it is called like "a Great Wall of China". However, tsunami waves were over the assumption and far beyond the wall. The places and buildings where were designated for evacuation sites were submerged within a short time period. That caused the loss of so many persons' life.
When tsunami occurs, "Leave immediately from your house or place and go quickly up to a high safe point. No time for shilly shallying ".
(Photo: Official U.S. Navy Imagery)