Japan Earthquake Update
Last Updated (Wednesday, 18 May 2011 18:13)
Japan Earthquake Update May 18, 2011
~ Information from Mr. Shigeru Shimada, General Secretary,
The National Council of YMCAs Japan)
Two and a half months have passed since the disaster. Thank you very much for your continued support from both inside and outside Japan. Our staff members and volunteers are highly recognized as coordinators of volunteers and organizations in many fields of relief and recovery supporting activities. It is appreciated our being always cheerful and our drawing out the peoples’ strength, our flexibility and our way of services to affected people.
YMCAs have cultivated the technique of group work; that is to raise each other in small group activities by organizing camps and various programs. YMCAs’ activities are based on the love and spirit of service as exemplified by Jesus Christ. We pray for others and each of us is voluntary and responsible. That is how we have fostered leadership to build democratic local communities.
You may also go to the website of NCY Japan for the most recent news:
http://www.ymcajapan.org/00_03_11.html
Activities by Morioka YMCA
Many staff members and former staff members from YMCAs in Hokkaido, Yokohama, Toyama, Osaka and the National Council were sent to Miyako to do activities with mountaineers staying at Miyako Church. Also we are working together with students at Iwate University. We help to be back to their daily life so we do things to make the victims feel happy.
These days we are asked to get rid of mud in the gutters. It is a manual labor that needs a lot of people to do various kinds of things such as taking the covers, removing mud and controlling traffic.
Activities by Sendai YMCA
We completed an activity to support children at Nobiru Elementary School, in Higashi-matsushima on April 21 when school started. We need to take care of the kids because they still live at evacuation centers.
We are planning to do recreation and food services at Isatomae Elementary School, Minami-sanriku on May 22. It is offered by Principal of Isatomae Elementary School where Natari Elementary School is temporally renting classrooms because of loss of the building. Isatomae Elementary School was not fully damaged but the first floor was under water and balls and mats for P.E. classes are not able to be used again.
The volunteer centers in Miyagino-ku and Wakabayashi-ku in Sendai were planned to be closed at the end of April, but it is still in operation in May because of a lot of requests. The staff members and volunteers are highly recognized and they are welcome to continue their work. Staffs were sent from Kobe, Kyoto, Tochigi, Wakayama, Nara, Osaka, Shiga, Nagoya, Kita-kyushu etc. to help the volunteer centers.
Also, about 20 staff members and leaders were sent from Yokohama YMCA to help cleaning inside greenhouses where strawberries were planted in Yamamoto, Miyagi. The work was done from April 29 to May 1. From May 3 to 5, 30 people were sent to Minami-sanriku to tidying the houses and carrying furniture. There were 74 people altogether with staff members and volunteers from Yamanashi YMCA and Sendai YMCA. Y’s Men’s Clubs in Sendai offered packed lunch for the staffs and volunteers.
East-Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund- The Target of Fundraising Campaign
YMCAs of Japan continue supportive activities for the affected, especially those who are to be weak; children and youths, elderly, disabled people and foreign citizens by applying Relief Fund and donations from both inside and outside Japan. Also we, as a community-based organization, operate activities that “cultivate the human and lives” to make youths develop holistically as doers of relief and recovery activities.
Target of Fundraising Campaign
TOTAL of the 1st term 300,000,000 yen (300 million yen)
Expenses for Activities of Phase 1: 50,000,000 yen ( 50 million yen)
Expenses for Activities of Phase 2: 150,000,000 yen (150 million yen)
Expenses for Activities of Phase 3: 100,000,000 yen (100 million yen)
Almost USD 3750000
YMCA Disaster Relief and Recovery Plan: Overview
Phase 1: Emergency
At evacuation centers (First year after the disaster)
Establishment, operation/ management and support of Disaster Volunteer Centers
- Overcoming lack of infrastructure or lifeline: asking their needs, offering evacuation centers, distribution of food supplies and daily necessities
- Support at evacuation centers: distribution of supplies, stress-reduction and physical exercise programs
- Assist to clean private houses: carrying broken furniture, tidying and cleaning up inside the houses
- Help the weak: support nurseries and after-schools, recreation, mental counseling, nursing care for the elderly
- Distribution of picture books, stationeries, toys and sporting goods for children
- Request of Coordinators of Japan YMCA Disaster Volunteers
Phase 2: After Emergency
Moving into temporary housings (For a half year to two years)
Support for normal livelihood (Planning and operating projects)
- Camp and after-school programs for children: grief retreat camps, trauma-reduction camps, etc.
- Supportive activities for classes, recreation and “field day” at schools
- Short or long stay for the elderly: offering YMCA campsites and training centers
- Programs and activities at YMCA centers: wellness (aquatic and gymnastic) programs, learning/ studying support
- Support affected students and youths: vocational training and scholarships
- Training for students as disaster recovery volunteers
Phase 3: Restart normal livelihood
No evacuation centers (For one to five years)
Raining of Trainers who promote recovery (Building citizen-participated communities)
- Training youth leading trainers for recovery
- Support students’ lives: scholarships, dormitories, and high schools with correspondence courses, vocational trainings, etc.
- Childcare: nurseries and after-schools
- Long-term mental counseling
- Establishment of Recovery Support Centers
Japan Disaster Update 5
Information from Mr. Shigeru Shimada, General Secretary,
The National Council of YMCAs of Japan
March 29, 2011
As of March 29, the government reported the total number of death caused by earthquake and
tsunami on March 11 was over 11,000 and the number of missing people was over 19,000 in
Tohoku and Kanto area. The total number of death is expected to be over 20,000, and it may
be hard to clarify the exact number. Over 180,000 people have evacuated because of
earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.
The figures cited from the news paper March 29, 2011
|
Prefectures |
Deaths |
Unknown |
Displaced people |
|
Hokkaido |
1 |
326 |
|
|
Aomori |
3 |
1 |
264 |
|
Iwate |
3,264 |
4,654 |
43,292 |
|
Miyagi |
6,692 |
8,936 |
79,670 |
|
Akita |
556 |
||
|
Yamagata |
1 |
2,953 |
|
|
Fukushima |
900 |
5,093 |
30,630 |
|
Tochigi |
4 |
2,317 |
|
|
Gunma |
1 |
3,397 |
|
|
Ibaraki |
20 |
1 |
2,279 |
|
Saitama |
3,381 |
||
|
Chiba |
17 |
2 |
1,346 |
|
Tokyo |
7 |
1,021 |
|
|
Kanagawa |
4 |
533 |
|
|
Niigata |
7,369 |
||
|
11,004 |
18,687 |
181,194 |
The situation and the work that YMCAs have done in each area are as follows.
【Iwate】
Morioka YMCA has sent staffs and volunteers to Miyako city, one of the most affected areas. They are working closely with the churches in this area. Yokohama YMCA sent directors to help them for one week, and the National Council of YMCAs of Japan sent special mountaineers too. Staffs and volunteers will be sent there from other YMCAs such as Yokohama YMCA, Kobe YMCA, the National Council of YMCAs of Japan and so on.
Miyako city is the seaside area in Iwate prefecture in the north, and the highest tsunami came there. Over 1,500 people are still missing. It takes more than 10 hours from Tokyo to Miyako by car, and it’s far from Tokyo compared with Miyagi prefecture. Because of the ria
coast, most roads were cut off by tsunami. Many senior people live in this area, and they worry about the lack of relief supplies and daily medicine for a long time. Houses were damaged and it’s hard to remove their furniture which is heavier than before because of its
muddiness by themselves. Miyako city is the countryside where local tie is strong, and it is also hard to build trust between local people and supporters from outside. YMCA are trying to communicate with them spending much time.
【Miyagi】
Sendai YMCA started to offer place to stay and foods to help the victims right after the earthquake. We sent the staffs from Kyoto YMCA, Yokohama YMCA, Kobe YMCA and the
National Council of YMCAs of Japan to explore the situation and victims’ needs. Tokyo YMCA and Y’s Men’s Clubs brought the relief supplies to the affected area.
Now, electricity and water system are recovered in the area where YMCA locates. Sendai YMCA’s volunteer center was set up on March 22, and they started to support three nearby areas on the coast damaged by tsunami. Local YMCA will send a team of coordinators and volunteers through the National Council of YMCAs of Japan for a week continuously.
This disaster damaged wide area and aftershock is still continuing. While search for missing people continues in many areas, sending volunteers to the affected area is controversial because of lack of the basic needs including gas for cars, and bad traffic. However, it is clear that many issues are not addressed properly by government, and expectancy to NGOs like YMCA which have experience and know-how is high.
【Ibaraki】
Ibaraki YMCA has helped refugees from Fukushima nuclear reactor threat area by offering child care and recreation programs in cooperation with social welfare council. Tokyo YMCA sent directors and staffs to help their work.
Displaced people stay in the gymnasium where there is no space for children to play, so many children and even adults feel stressed. Local government asked YMCA to offer outdoor programs such as dodge ball, jumping rope, football, catch, and tag. Over 60 volunteers from
Ibaraki YMCA and Tokyo YMCA in total have supported this program.
【Tochigi】
Tochigi YMCA has offered elderly programs in eastern area of Utsunomiya and Haga area where many houses got damaged and they sent 30 volunteers in total to each houses where
the elder live by themselves in the affected area to hear their needs. Now, Tochigi YMCA offers day service for the elderly at the evacuation center. In this disaster, the elderly is vulnerable in the affected area at home as well as the evacuation center. Tochigi YMCA is also planning to take care of the people evacuated from the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Tochigi YMCA had some damages in its buildings and facilities.
【Tokyo】
Tokyo YMCA sent their staffs to the affected areas and helped them plan the rescue activities. They collaborated with Y’s Men’s Club to deliver emergency supplies. A priest who used to be a Tokyo YMCA director works at the church in Sendai, so there is a connection in this area.
Tokyo YMCA is considering the possibility of support based on this church.
【Kanagawa】
Yokohama YMCA has sent their staffs to the affected areas to support especially Miyako city where Morioka YMCA is supporting.
【YMCA International Youth Center Tozanso】
YMCA international youth center Tozanso accepted 15 people who escaped from nuclear crisis, and they will consider accepting more people.
As stated above, YMCAs in eastern part of Japan have worked hard to support the people in the affected area. Other YMCAs also started their action, and over 2,000 people in total joined the donation campaign on the street.
Kobe YMCA and other YMCAs in Kansai/Western area which experienced Great Hanshin earthquake before got many resources and support through their network.
The National Council of YMCAs of Japan is the main office to coordinate nation wide activities and overseas communication. We are working in good cooperation with other NGOs and organizations in national level and set up “Japan Civil Net”, a network of NGOs working for the people in the affected area.
We have collected all the information from the YMCA staffs who went to the affected areas, and asked fund raising from local YMCAs in the other areas and from overseas. All YMCAs in Japan have prepared to send staffs and volunteers to the affected areas when routes and places to stay are ready in the mid-long term.
YMCAs in Japan unite together to raise the fund and to overcome this tragedy.We really appreciate all again and especially to the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs for all the coordination, and we appreciate continuous support and solidarity.
Morioka Y - Miyako City |
|
| Ambulance was also destroyed by Tsunami on the way to the first aid. One of the rescue driver died. |  |
| 10 days after the Tsunami.Many houses fall down all over one another. |  |
| Most affected area in Miyako city. |  |
|
Inside the house where only elderly live. They are at a lost how to clear away and keep living here. YMCA volunteers help them. |
 |
| YMCA volunteers help them. |  |
| Staff of the Morioka YMCA and volunteer |  |
| We had to wipe away heavy sludge over 20 kg many times. |  |
|
|
Sendai YMCA’s volunteer center was set up on March 22, and they started to support three nearby areas on the coast damaged by tsunami |
| Tochigi YMCA has offered elderly programs in eastern area of Utsunomiya and Haga area where many houses got damaged and they sent 30 volunteers in total to each houses where the elder live by themselves in the affected area to hear their needs. |     |
| Tochigi YMCA is also planning to take care of the people evacuated from the Fukushima nuclear crisis. Tochigi YMCA had some damages in its buildings and facilities. |  |
    |
    |
  |
Japan Disaster news update 4
Information from Mr. Shigeru Shimada,
General Secretary,
The National Council of YMCAs of Japan
March 22, 2011
As of March 22, 2011 the Government reported the total death caused by Earth quakes and Tsunami on March 11 were over 9000 and people missing were over 12600 in Tohoku and Kanto area.
The figures cited from in the news paper from Japan. March 22, 2011
| Prefectures | Deaths | Unknown | Houses Broken |
| Iwate | 2,773 | 4,253 | 11,046 |
| Miyagi | 6,364 | 2,985 (more) | 2,714 |
| Fukushima | 735 | 4,437 | 10,981 |
| Tochigi | 4 | - | 30,006 |
| Gunma | 1 | - | 13,206 |
| Ibaragi | 19 | 1 | 42,631 |
The below shows the activities done in YMCAs in the area
Iwate: The Morioka YMCA has been sending staff and volunteers in Miyako city, one of the severely damaged city. They are working closely with the churches in the area.The Yokohama YMCA will send directors to help them for one week. Also special mountaineers will be sent there.
Miyagi: The Sendai YMCA started to help people in community by offering place to stay and offering foods to the victims immediately after the Earthquake. Now sending a team to the affected areas for further investigation for possible activities.
Ibaragi: The Tsukuba YMCA helping refugees from Fukushima Nuclear Reactor threat area by offering child care and recreation programs cooperated with social welfare
council.
Tochigi: Offering elderly programs in eastern area of Utsunomiya and Haga area, which had damages in many houses. The YMCA is also planning to take care of the people evacuated from the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor problems. The YMCA had some damages in its buildings and facilities.
Tokyo: The Tokyo YMCA has been sending their staff to the affected areas and helping them plan the rescue activities. They collaborate with Y’s Men’s Club to deliver emergency commodity. Some of the YMCA buildings were damaged.
Kanagawa: The Yokohama YMCA has been sending their staff to the affected areas.Some of the YMCA buildings were damaged.
Fukushima: No YMCA.
National Council is the main office to coordinate national wide activities and oversea communication. Right now they have been gathering all the information from the YMCA staff members who were sent to the affected areas. Requesting fund raising from local YMCAs in the other areas and overseas. All the YMCA Japan, have been prepared to send staff and volunteers to the places when routes and places to stay are ready in the mid-and-long term.
Japan Earthquake Update 3
From Shigeru Shimada, General Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan,
March 18, 2011
Dear all,
Thank you very much for your prompt response and prayers for us from all over the world.
A week has past since the earthquake happened on March 11th. Over 6,000 people were killed and 17,000 people are missing. 400,000 people have evacuated. Because of the accident of power station caused by earthquake, many people also have been evacuated from the affected area. The temperature goes below its freezing point in the affected area,But the lifeline has not recovered yet.
The distribution of relief supplies has not gone well because of the interrupted road in the affected area and lack of gas for cars. Many factories also don’t work in the affected area. Although we formed a special task force in Tokyo, the work has been disrupted often because of continuing aftershock and blackout. We sent a general secretary of Kyoto YMCA to the affected area on 14th -15th, and we had an emergency meeting with local YMCA’s general secretaries to discuss the future plan on 16th.
Japan YMCA will send two directors who had experience of emergency relief on March 19th, and they will bring relief supplies and discuss the future plan with the staffs in the affected area.
Sendai YMCA in the most affected area has accepted the refugees at school and provided meals in the yard of their school right after earthquake. Other YMCAs also have accepted the refugee from the area affected by accident of power station, supported the people at public building, and provided recreation for children. YMCAs in Japan unite together to raise the fund and to overcome this tragedy.
We thank all again and especially to the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs for all the coordination, and we appreciate continuous support and solidarity.
Japan Earthquake Update 2
Updated on March 15, 2011
Disaster response to the massive damages in Eastern Japan
From Shigeru Shimada, National General Secretary, National Council of YMCAs of Japan, March 14, 2011
First of all, we sincerely appreciate your concerns and prayers.
In response to the massive destruction by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11th, the Japan YMCA has formed a special task force to respond to the needs of the disaster areas. Today the Government, Civil Society groups and NGOs gathered in Tokyo and discussed the roles of their respective organizations. The YMCA will be mainly focused on supporting the victims, children, handicapped, elderly and migrant workers in Japan. We have never experienced such a huge disaster throughout the many parts of the country with such massive damage occurring with each disaster. We expect this task will last over a long and difficult time span. Currently, we are experiencing an energy cut back of a few hours each day, even in Tokyo. This energy cut back affects our daily lives in unthinkable ways and is expected to last over an extended period of time. The earthquakes are still occurring in many areas including Tokyo on an alarming frequency.
We will form local YMCA support stations at the Sendai YMCA and Tochigi YMCA. Those YMCAs are the closest to the most affected areas. Those YMCAs experienced the big earthquake and some parts of their buildings were also damaged. They are helping their local victims but volunteers will be sent to the affected areas as soon as access is possible. Presently, all the roads and trains to the severely affected areas have been shut off or discontinued.
Meanwhile, we would like to appeal for donations to support the activities and lives of the victims throughout the huge area.
Kindly indicate your pledge of support that should be sent to the following APAY account:
A/C Name: Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Bank’s Name: Bank of East Asia
Account Number: 015-515-20-050045
Swift Code: BEASHKHH
Thank you and we continue praying for the victims and their families.
Updated on March 12, 2011
Subject: Japan Earthquake Update
Dear Friends,
I received a mail from Mr. Shimada, NGS of Japan. As you all watched the unbelievable tragedies happening in Japan, I was shocked to see such things happening in Japan. I received a mail from NGS Japan now so I will send it to you. They will meet soon and will make plans to respond to the huge areas of disasters. I just want to share his comments now.
Thank you for your concern and prayer to the victims. Thank you.
Kohei Yamada
APAY
Email from Mr. Shigeru Shimada, National General Secretary of NCY Japan:
Thank you very much for your concern and prayer.
An earthquake with a histroric magnitude of 8.8 rocked the Tohoku region Friday, 11 of March, triggering tsunami that wiped away cars ships and buildings and houses all along the east coast. The quake was felt hundreds of kilmeters away, including in Tokyo and Yokohama, where buildings swayed for a long time and people swarmed out of them.
According to a National Police Agency tally as of 2:45 p.m. Saturday, at least 520 people were killed and 750 others were missing as a result of the magnitude 8.8 temblor. Another strong quake with a magnitude of 6.7 rocked an inland area on the Sea of Japan coast northwest of Tokyo, hitting Nagano and Niigata prefectures at 3:59 a.m. Saturday, but the extent of the damage from the quake, which occurred far away from the one that jolted Pacific coastal areas, was not immediately known.
Now, the government declared a state of atomic power emergency Friday after the Tohoku region was hit by what is being called the strongest earthquake in Japanese history and urged around 3,000 residents near a reactor in Fukushima Prefecture to evacuate.
We, Japan YMCA, fortunately all staffs of the local YMCAs and the National Council are safe. Some local YMCAs, especailly, Sendai and Morioka YMCAs where are located in Tohoku region are in the serious situation and lack of essential utilities until now.
We set up the YMCA Emergency headquarters at the National Council and keep collecting informations and coordinating resources.
We really appreciate pray and condolences from YMCAs all over the world. May all people in the disaster can gracefully and completely avoid from the danger or suffering, and May God takes care of them.
Shigeru Shimada
General Secretary
The National Council of YMCAs of Japan
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.ymcajapan.org/
7 Honshiocho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan 160-0003