Good Neighbors Japan Emergency Relief Team (Supported by Good Neighbors USA)

FROM THE SITE:

Thursday, 21 April 2011 14:44

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Emergency Relief Report #6

It has been well over a month since the devastating earthquake hit northern Japan and we are continuously working hard to provide the victims with shelter, food, water, clothing, etc.

Here is a history of our emergency relief efforts in Japan:

4/18 Monday – Decide to install 3 shower booths each at Kamaishi Kuribayashi elementary school and Kannon Tourism Center. A plan to install 6 more shower booths in 3 different locations by request from the town of Otsuchi and to start installation by early May. Two days of cleanup on the surrounding areas of Otsuchi on the 21st and 22nd with a volunteer team. Checking the content and quantity of the 2nd shipment of goods from Korea.

4/15 Friday – Discussion of shower booth installations, volunteer team, and preparation of cleanup of surrounding areas in Otsuchi (April 21-22). Unotsumai nursery school visit and deliver school materials and goods.

4/14 Thursday – Kamaishi disaster center and shower booth installations as well as water quantity consultation, disaster service center, and nursery school visit

4/13 Wednesday – Containers shipped on March 18th to Kamaishi disaster center. 3 programs were decided on after a strategy meeting (child care program, shower booth installation and operation and a volunteer team to clean up the surroundings). Fundraised $753,144 to date with $43,144 in goods included.

4/12 Tuesday – Orientation and briefing on conditions of activities for the new project labor force.

4/11 Monday –Kitakami base camp assembly for the new project labor force

4/08 Friday – Recruitment of GN Japan emergency relief team (short term: 7 people, administration: 1 person)

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SOURCE: SEEDS Asia SitRep 8 dated 3/24/11
http://www.seedsasia.org/eng/sit_8.pdf

"Good Neighbors: relief and hygiene products distribution in Kamaishi and Oduchi town, Iwate Pref."

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Thursday, 17 March 2011 14:24

Updated Report On Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Relief Efforts

Many people are in pain and agony because of the unprecedented 9.0 earthquake that hit the Tohoku region of Japan on March 11th.

On the 16th, Good Neighbors commenced with emergency relief in the damaged Kamaishi region by sending and distributing emergency relief goods.

The damages are not the only ongoing problems in the region that have been severely affected by the earthquake. At night, the temperature drops to 14 degrees Fahrenheit and heavy snowfall contribute to the horrible conditions. Transportation to the most heavily affected areas is cut off, so they cannot receive the emergency aid and goods that have been sent to them. Lastly, electricity and drinking water supply has been partly restricted in the regions.

Transportation to the most affected areas are blocked off due to damage and debris on the roads.

In order to quickly and safely distribute goods to the victims, the Good Neighbors Japan emergency relief team has collaborated with the emergency disaster control offices in Kitakami and Kamaishi as well as the Kitakami City Police Station to set up shelters at Kamaishi middle school and Kyukamaishi High School and are distributing T-shirts, masks and other relief items. GN Japan is currently planning on distributing more items to more shelters.

Takahiro Takagaki, a part of GN Japan’s Emergency relief team, said “The current situation is much more serious than what you have heard through the media. From the 16th, there has been heavy snowfall and the temperatures drop significantly at night so the victims staying in the shelters are in desperate need of blankets because there are no heaters in the shelters.”

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Wednesday, 16 March 2011 08:29

Good Neighbors Emergency Relief #1

Due to the lack of electricity distribution, companies are temporarily closed, and among them, Good Neighbors Japan. Some of our local employees are working from home, as the rest is working as a part of the emergency relief team.

Good Neighbors emergency relief team is giong to the most damaged area, Tohoku, for assessment, where over 40,000 buildings were damaged and 2,852 houses and buildings were destroyed.

Good Neighbors emergency relief team is planning to purchase items such as T-shirts, masks, snack, etc. in Akita, and distribute them in Iwate and Kotakami, as soon as they find some gasoline. At the same time, we sent a 20ft container full of food and other necessities on the 13th, and it arrived in Akita on the 15th.

What Japan needs the most at the moment are: water, food, gasoline, medicine, sanitary items like masks.

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http://www.goodneighbors.org/projects/158.html