Japan Earthquake Update: April 5

05/04/2011

Nearly four weeks after the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, more than 170,500 people are still living in evacuation centres. The devastation of the earthquake and tsunami continues to exact a huge toll. Beyond immediate needs, it will take many years for local communities to rebuild.

The members of Canada’s HUMANITARIAN COALITION are providing relief in support of the Japanese Government’s emergency management efforts.

  • CARE is targeting 20,000 beneficiaries in the coastal communities of Iwate Prefecture directly impacted by the tsunami.  This prefecture has had less attention and presence than Miyagi and Fukushima to the south.  CARE is focusing on food security, shelter, psycho-social support programs and disaster risk reduction.  Their response includes food distribution, supplying non-food items and upgrades to evacuation centres.

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  • Oxfam is supporting a local multi-language centre to help an estimated 40,000 non-Japanese speakers with a hotline, portable radios and batteries and translation of information from local authorities. Oxfam is also supporting the Japan Women’s Shelter Network and the Single Mothers’ Forum to provide counseling for women, including a 24-hour sexual and domestic violence hotline. In cooperation with two local partner organizations, Oxfam will also provide private spaces in the evacuation centres for breastfeeding, as well as diapers and sanitary goods and counselling to women under stress. 

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  • Save the Children is carrying out child protection activities focusing on providing Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) in some of the major evacuation centres in Miyagi and Iwate. In this protective environment, children can play, talk about their experiences, and establish a routine in a chaotic situation.  At present Save the Children has a total of five CFS operating (three CFS operating in Sendai City servicing six evacuation centres and two in Ishinomaki servicing four evacuation centres).

To find out more, visit the member organization websites at the links below: