2011.06.21

【Status Report】 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Support Activity June 10

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Overall Status

・      On March 11, 2011, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 followed by　a massive tsunami hit areas throughout north-eastern to eastern regions of Japan.

・      Damages are reported in 21 prefectures. As of June 9, the number of completely destroyed houses: 112,490, death toll: 15,401, missing: 8,146 (by police report). The scale of catastrophe is unprecedented in our history.

         Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ) has been engaged in various activities with the goal of harmonious coexistence with the people in Asia for many years, having our recent activities based in Viet Nam and Myanmar. However, in the face the catastrophic situation in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, we began our emergency reconstruction assistance activities in Iwate Prefecture in April. 

         From early April we have been working with an Italian restaurant chef in Ofunato City of Iwate Prefecture and his team, "San-san no Kai ," to deliver a variety of well balanced meals for the evacuees in emergency shelters in Ofunato City and Rikuzentakata City. In May, they delivered 42,607 meals to 38 evacuation centers.  

        BAJ will continue to work with "San-san no Kai" to deliver meals in Ofunato City. In the mean time, we have also started working with SAVE IWATE  to cook and deliver more meals in Rikuzentakata City.  

         With our activity based on "San-san no Kai", we are further expanding our meal delivery service in Iwate Prefecture with "San-san no Kai" and SAVE IWATE, utilizing a subsidy from Japan Platform  from May 20.  

Meal delivery service started on June 8 in Rikuzentakata City!!

           "Heartfelt Kitchen Rikuzentakata," a program designed to deliver well-balanced food for the evacuees, was launched on June 8, thanks to　SAVE IWATE. Our first menu was meat and potato stew.

           This program is supported by Rikuzentakata City residents who cook the meals, drivers who deliver the meals, the driving school that provides us with their kitchen, as well as SAVE IWATE and driving school staff.

Report on Iwate by BAJ Tokyo Office staff, Yamaki

             I made a trip to Iwate Prefecture where BAJ is engaged in support activities, and stayed there for 6 days from June 2 to 7. Three months have passed since the earthquake, but ever since I have returned from the trip, I cannot help but notice how smaller the news coverage has become on tsunami stricken areas. TV stations ran many reports on damages of the tsunami in the aftermath of the earthquake, but today their reports are mainly focused on things like unique activities happening in the area or individual victims. The areas' overall status of reconstruction is hard to grasp for the general public. 

             In Rikuzentakata City and Ofunato City, one of the worst affected areas by the tsunami and where BAJ provides support with, rubble removal works continue on. The residential areas that were reduced to rubbles by the tsunami may take years to have everything cleared and brought back to its shape.