Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan, the 4th strongest earthquake worldwide since 1900. Following the earthquake, a tsunami inundated many cities and towns in the northeast coast of Japan and caused Level 7 meltdowns at 3 reactors of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. The massive earthquake killed over 15, 000 people, destroyed 17,000 homes and buildings. More than 50 million people were affected and the total estimated direct economic loss is US$309 billion.

World Vision Japan began responding in the immediate aftermath of the disasters and World Vision also initiated global fundraising to bring help to affected people.

After 6 months on, World Vision Japan has already reached more than 147,000 people with emergency relief supplies and long-term recovery assistance.

In the initial phase, World Vision focused on implementing non-food item distribution, community kitchen project and children in emergency activities in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures, the areas most affected by the tsunami and earthquake.

World Vision has moved into the second phase of its response, which will reach about 100,000 people from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. The organization will focus on community building within the temporary shelter settlements; installing boreholes, emergency water storage, and solar panels for emergency power in future disasters; child development and protection through Child-Friendly Spaces, providing school supplies, and temporary classrooms; helping revitalize the local fishing industry; and providing relief supplies and child-focused support to families that evacuated from Fukushima Prefecture.

• More than 68,000 people have been provided with emergency relief items like blankets, clothing, hygiene kits, food and water.
• More than 10,000 people living in the temporary shelters in Miyagi and Iwate Prefecture have received 100 items each to help them rebuild their lives.
• School-feeding programs are reaching more than 1,000 students each day.
• Three school buses operate daily, allowing displaced children to return to school.
• Seven Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) were established to help children recover from the emotional and psychological toll of this disaster, with one CFS continuing through the school year until March 2012.
• Six community kitchens have been constructed at evacuation centers and have provided more than 15,000 hot meals.
• Washing machines, rice cookers, refrigerators, and vacuum cleaners were also provided at the evacuation centers.