AAR JAPAN

Japan: Eleven Months after the Great East Japan Earthquake: Activity Report

2012-02-13T10:18:00.011+09:00

Continuing to Bridge the Disaster Survivors and their Supporters

AAR JAPAN has been carrying out relief efforts for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake since the immediate aftermath of the disaster. In addition to delivering emergency supplies to those who have limited access to aid, such as persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly, AAR JAPAN is also repairing welfare facilities and providing vehicles for facilities for persons with disabilities.

January 13^th, 2012 – AAR JAPAN delivers stuffed animals to children at Minato Preschool who have few opportunities to play outside because of the impact of the accident at the nuclear power plant. (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

In addition to distributing winter necessities and equipment for snow removal to people living in temporary housing complexes, AAR JAPAN is continuing to support the Building Healthy Communities Project, offering community interaction and exchange events to disaster survivors, many of who tend to spend their entire day isolated behind closed doors. We are also putting great efforts to the heart-warming chocolate delivery campaign as Valentine’s Day approaches.

AAR JAPAN will continue its relief efforts for the people of the disaster-affected areas, forming a bridge between the struggling disaster survivors and those who hope to support them. Below is a report on the activities that AAR JAPAN’s supporters have enabled us to carry out in the last 11 months:

AAR JAPAN’s Projects in Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake
1. Delivering Relief to Families in Temporary Housing and Leased Housing in Fukushima Prefecture

2. Support for Food Service at Schools in Minami-soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

3. Psychological Care for Children in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

4. Supporting Pregnant Women Living in and out of Fukushima Prefecture

5. Building Healthy Communities Project

6. Delivery of Relief Supplies

7. Reconstruction of Facilities for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities

8. Vehicle Provision

9. Supporting Market Expansion for Products made by Persons with Disabilities

10. Container Housing Project

11. Hand-made Tote Bags Project

12. Heart-Warming Chocolate and Hand-Written Message Delivery Campaign

13. Charity Concerts

14. “Let’s Bring Hot Springs to the Disaster Zone!” Project (concluded)

15. Shuttle Bus Service (concluded)

16. Mobile Clinic (concluded)

17. Sanitation Services (concluded)

18. Sportswear and Textbook Support for Students who Moved to Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture (concluded)

1. Delivering Relief to Families in Temporary Housing and Leased Housing in Fukushima Prefecture

January 12^th, 2012 – A cupboard is delivered to Ms. Miyoko YATSU (representative from a support group for children with developmental disorder), who evacuated from Minami-Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture. On the left is Takeji ASANO of AAR JAPAN. (Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture)

We have been supporting the day-to-day livelihoods of families living in temporary housing and subsidized housing in Fukushima Prefecture in cooperation with ADRA Japan. As the Japanese Red Cross has distributed six-piece sets of home electrical appliances in earthquake- and tsunami-affected areas, AAR JAPAN has focused on providing items such as kitchenware, bathroom goods, vacuum cleaners, kotatsu (heated tables) and regular tables, kitchen cabinets, and so on, based on requests from municipal governments. We are targeting 13 municipalities in the Hamadori and Nakadori regions of Fukushima Prefecture: Soma City, Minami-Soma City, Shinchi Town, Iitate Village, Tomioka Town, Kawauchi Village, Koriyama City, Sukagawa City, Kagamiishi Town, Shirakawa City, Nishigo Village, Yabuki Town, and Izumisaki Village. Following a request from the municipal governments of Minami-Soma City and Tomioka Town, both located within 20 km of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, we are also providing supplies to survivors who have taken refuge in other prefectures. In order to contribute to the economic recovery of the local communities, we are collaborating with the local Commerce and Industry Associations in 10 municipalities to source as many aid goods locally as possible. As of January 31st, 2012, we have completed the delivery of relief supplies to 22,455 households in the target area.

2. Support for Food Service at Schools in Minami-soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

AAR JAPAN provided vegetable juice and rice for approximately 2,800 schoolchildren in Kashima, Minami-Soma City. The Kashima area is just outside the restricted zone around Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, and since the accident, many children who used to attend school closer to the plant have now been relocated here. From July 1^st to 22^nd, vegetable juice was provided to every schoolchild twice a week, and a total of 2 tons of rice was supplied for school meals. Kashima was also experiencing a shortage of vehicles for delivering food to schools, so AAR JAPAN secured rented vehicles for food delivery from August 23^rd.

3. Psychological Care for Children (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

The SOMA Follower Team, which AAR JAPAN has been supporting, consists of 6 members including clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and healthcare workers and has been providing psychological care for students and their parents at affected kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools in Soma City. In addition to the psychological care activities at schools, the team began to visit each and every one of 1,361 households in the 13 temporary housing complexes in Soma City since October, 2011 in order to grasp the current living conditions of the children and students at temporary housing complexes. By visiting each family, they ask how the children are doing and listen to their guardians’ concerns so that they can discover problems, if any arise, in the early stage and respond to them.

4. Supporting Pregnant Women

AAR JAPAN has been supporting “Project in Response to Needs of Infants, Children, and Pregnant Women of Fukushima” (represented by Sayaka FUNADA-CLASSEN) in order to respond to individual needs of families who desire to evacuate from Fukushima Prefecture to elsewhere on their own. In this project, we have been providing detailed assistance to the families with infants, children, and/or pregnant women who are particularly concerned about health problems due to radiation pollution after the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake. AAR JAPAN’s contribution enabled the delivery of heaters, heated carpets, and humidifiers among other items to 7 households that evacuated to Tokyo or Miyagi prefectures from Fukushima, and 160 toys and 110 stuffed animals to infants and children living in and out of Fukushima.

5. Building Healthy Communities Project

AAR JAPAN has been providing massages, calisthenics and psychological care, as well as community interaction and exchange events for roughly 3,000 people, focusing on persons with disabilities, the elderly, displaced people, and people staying in temporary housing in the disaster-affected areas of Miyagi and Iwate prefectures. Through these comprehensive efforts, AAR JAPAN continues to support people in the disaster zone as they work to maintain both their physical and mental health.

Massages/Calisthenics

January 22^nd, 2012 – AAR JAPAN offers calisthenics to the residents of Hibiki temporary housing complex. Participants say, “It feels good to move your body!” (Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture)

AAR JAPAN has been sending occupational therapists and physiotherapists to evacuation centers, senior care centers, facilities for persons with disabilities, temporary housing, and individual homes in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, offering massages and calisthenics to prevent disuse syndrome among 689 people from July 9^th to January 29^th, 2012.

・At the health and welfare center "Seiyukan" on the Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi Prefecture (July 9th, 2011)

・At the community center and at private homes in Ayukawa, Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi Prefecture (July 9th, 2011)

・At Shizugawa Highschool in Minami-sanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture (July 16th, 2011)

・At welfare facility "Nonbiri Sumichan House" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (July 26th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complex "Hibiki" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (July 26th, 2011)

・At welfare facility "Harunomorikara" in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (July 27th, 2011)

・At "Miyako Ability Center", a vocational aid center for persons with disabilities in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture (July 28th, 2011)

・At "Fureai-so", a nursing home for the elderly in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture (July 28th, 2011)

・At the community center of the Shichigahama temporary housing complex in Miyagi County, Miyagi Prefecture (August 6th, 2011)

・At the temporary housing complex on the premises of Showa-en in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (August 7th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complex "Hibiki" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (August 13th, 2011)

・At the Kojirahama temporary housing complex in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (August 20th, 2011)

・At the community center of the Ayukawahama temporary housing complex in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (August 21st, 2011)

・At welfare facility "Nonbiri Sumichan House" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (August 28th, 2011)

・At welfare facility "Hamanasu no Sato"in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (August 28th, 2011)

・At the temporary housing complex on the premises of Onagawa Elementary School No. 3, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (September 3rd, 2011)

・At the community center of temporary housing complex # 7 in Otsuchi, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture (September 4th, 2011)

・At the community center of temporary housing complex # 5 in Otsuchi, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture (September 4th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complex "Hibiki" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (September 10th, 2011)

・At Kasshi Town Plot No. 7 (Ohata West), Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (September 11th, 2011)

・At the Kyubunhama temporary housing complex in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (September 17th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complexes Wano and Sanoya in Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture (September 18th, 2011)

・At Sports Center 1 in Miyagi County, Miyagi Prefecture (September 23rd, 2011)

・At the Kashinai temporary housing complex in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture (September 24th, 2011)

・At the Obuchihama temporary housing complex in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (October 1st, 2011)

・At the Kugunarihama temporary housing complex in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (October 14th, 2011)

・At the community center of the Shichigahama temporary housing complex in Miyagi County, Miyagi Prefecture (October 15th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complex "Hibiki" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (October 22nd, 2011)

・At the temporary housing complex on the premises of Onagawa Elementary School No. 3, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (November 5th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complex "Hibiki" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (November 12th, 2011)

・At welfare facility "Sasae-Ai Yamamoto" in Watari Town, Miyagi Prefecture (November 26th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complex Hakosaki No. 3 in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (December 3rd, 2011)

・At the community center of the Shichigahama temporary housing complex in Miyagi County, Miyagi Prefecture (December 4th, 2011)

・At "Koguni no Sato", a temporary housing complex for persons with disabilities in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (December 11th, 2011)

・At senior care center "Sayuri" in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture (December 17th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complex Hakosaki No. 3 in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (December 18th, 2011)

・At temporary housing complex Hakosaki No. 3 in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (January 14th, 2012)

・At temporary housing complex Hakosaki No. 3 in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (January 15th, 2012)

・At welfare facility "Chiraku-so" in Yamamoto Town, Miyagi Prefecture (January 21st, 2012)

・At temporary housing complex "Hibiki" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (January 22nd, 2012)

・At the Kami-Osabe temporary housing complex in Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture (January 28th, 2012)

・At Kariyado Fishing Port in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (January 29th, 2012)

Psychological Care

To mitigate stress both from the earthquake and from long-term evacuee life, AAR JAPAN has been sending counselors to evacuation centers, temporary housing units, and individual homes to provide psychological care. We provided counseling for 479 people between August 6^th, 2011 and January 20^th, 2012.

Community Interaction and Exchange Events

AAR JAPAN has been actively promoting community interaction and exchange events to help encourage the development of social ties in evacuation centers and temporary housing. In this effort, we have been organizing soup kitchens, delivering relief supplies, and providing rehabilitation services such as massages and aroma therapy. To date, we have organized or participated in events in the following locations:

・Festival at Wako Kindergarten in Shichigahama Town, Miyagi Prefecture (July 23rd, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex on the premises of Showa-en in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (August 7th, 2011)

・Bon Festival in Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture (August 15th, 2011)

・Higashihama Elementary School on the Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi Prefecture (August 18th, 2011)

・Toni Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (August 20th, 2011)

・Senior care center in Otomo Town, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture (August 20th, 2011)

・Offering aromatherapy at Higashihama Elementary School in Miyagi Prefecture (August 23rd, 2011)

・Workshop for persons with disabilities in Yamada Town, Shimohei County, Iwate Prefecture (August 26th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex in Kasshi Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (August 27th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex in Shichigahama Town, Miyagi Prefecture (August 28th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (September 11th, 2011)

・Gym of Nakano Junior High School in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (September 17th, 2011)

・Community room at Kashinai temporary housing complex in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture (September 24th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex in Kuribayashi Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (September 25th, 2011)

・Gym of Nakano Junior High School in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (September 25th, 2011)

・In front of a shop in Sakuragi-cho, Otsuchi Town, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture (September 28th,2011)

・Temporary housing complex in Kesen Town, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture (October 2nd, 2011)

・Festival at Kurosaki Shrine in Hirota Town, Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture (October 9th, 2011)

・“Everyone's Festival Bureiko” in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (October 10th, 2011)

・Dosen Subsidized Apartments in Kasshi Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (October 16th, 2011)

・Higashihama Elementary School in Ishinomaki City, Iwate Prefecture (October 11th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex # 9 in Otsuchi Town, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture (October 23rd, 2011)

・Takinosato in Takekoma, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture (October 25th, 2011)

・Workshop "Himawari" in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture (October 29th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex Hakosaki No. 3 in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (October 30th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex on the premises of Onagawa Elementary School No. 3, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (November 5th, 2011)

・"Atelier Sun", an employment support center for persons with disabilities in Hokuda, Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture (November 12th, 2011)

・Parking lot in front of A. Sasaki's house in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture (November 13th, 2011)

・Shokei University in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture (November 19th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex Tenjin in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (November 20th, 2011)

・Nakano Sakae Community Center in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (November 27th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex Hakosaki No. 3 in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (November 27th, 2011)

・Temporary housing complex on the Ishinomaki bypass construction site in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (December 10th, 2011)

・"Yamada Kyosei Sagyosho", an employment support center for persons with disabilities in Yamada Town, Iwate Prefecture (December 13th, 2011)

・Shakunagenokai", a medical care facility for persons with severe disabilities in Sadanai, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (December 14th, 2011)

・Community room of temporary housing complex "Hibiki" in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (December 14th, 2011)

・Higashihama Elementary School in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (December 15th, 2011)

・Tsubaki Factory", a workshop for persons with intellectual disabilities in Ikawa Town, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture (December 19th, 2011)

・"Suzuran-to-Katatsumuri", a workshop for persons with disabilities in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture (December 20th, 2011)

In coordination with Ingram Co., Ltd., which is responsible for the Peace Project, AAR JAPAN organized soup kitchens at a total of 73 locations in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures between March 31^st, 2011 and January 7^th, 2012. Since August, the soup kitchens have been operated as part of the Building Healthy Communities Project.

Miyagi Prefecture:

Watanoha, Aikawa, Kitakami, and Ayukawa areas (Oshika Peninsula) in Ishinomaki City; Wakabayashi District in Sendai City; Tagajo City; Shizugawa and Utatsu in Minami-sanriku Town; Niitsuki, Shishiori, and Omose areas in Kesen-numa City

Iwate Prefecture:

Kamaishi City, Rikuzen-takata City, Taro Town in Miyako City, Yamada Town, Otsuchi Town

Fukushima Prefecture:

Haramachi Ward in Minami-Soma City

Menu

Tokushima ramen, Oden, Beef stew, Yakisoba (fried noodles), Fried chicken, Vegetable sticks, Chukadon (Chinese-style stir-fried meat and vegetables on rice), Beef steak, Onion soup, Tuna sashimi on rice, Chanko-nabe (hot pot), Apple pie, Onion sauté, Minestrone, Ground chicken with egg and vegetables on rice, Fish miso soup, Hijiki seaweed mix, Fried sweet potato, Cabbage rolls, Mixed bean-curd lees and vegetables, Autumn rice, Pork miso soup, Stewed fish, Cabbage and spinach side dishes, Somen noodles, Minced fish soup, Hand-made sweet potato pies, Hand-made langue du chats, Samgyetang (Korean chicken ginseng soup), Yakitori (grilled chicken), Miso soup with tofu and shimeji mushrooms, Stewed meat and potatoes, Boiled komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach), Pasta with meat sauce, Potato salad, Miso soup with Chinese cabbage and shiitake mushrooms, Boiled field mustard, Inarizushi (fried tofu stuffed with venerated rice), Cooked radish and minced meat, Kashiwa mochi (rice cake wrapped in oak leaf), Fried whitefish, Miso soup with radish, Radish salad, Fruit Jell-O, Udon noodles, Almond Jell-O, Stir-fried meat with vegetables, Gyoza (Chinese dumplings), Borscht, Miso soup with clams, Marinated octopus, Miso soup with cabbage and Japanese mustard spinach, Raw squid with wasabi, Seafood curry and rice (with scallops, clams and shrimp), Japanese sweets and amazake (sweet mild sake), Charcoal-broiled fish, Kakigori (shaved ice with flavored syrup), Grilled corn, Kitsune udon, Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), Japanese dace, Daikon-oroshi (grated Japanese radish), Pickled vegetables, Unaju (grilled eel on rice), Vegetables pickled in sake lees, Miso soup with wakame seaweed and green onion, Rice-fed pork from Sumida Town grilled with local vegetables on rice, Tada farm cheese pudding, Rice balls with chestnuts, Soba with tempura, Boiled taro, Konnyaku with bean paste, Congee with seven leaves, etc.

6. Delivery of Relief Supplies

Needs have altered as seasons change and people’s lives inch toward normalcy. AAR JAPAN is currently delivering portable power generators to persons with disabilities who rely on respirators to breathe. We have also been providing winter necessities for the harsh cold of the season.

January 20^th, 2012 – Wheel chairs, oil heaters, and winter necessities are delivered to a nursing home for the elderly, “Pika Pika.” On the left is Shuji OMATSU of AAR JAPAN. (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Relief Supplies Delivered to Affected Areas from March 14^th to January 30^th

Provided to 120,326 people in 1,525 locations

Distribution Areas

Miyagi Prefecture: Sendai City, Ishinomaki City, Kesen-numa City, Natori City, Tome City, Higashi-Matsushima City, Onagawa Town, Tagajo City, Iwanuma City, Minami-sanriku Town, Yamamoto Town, Shiogama City

Iwate Prefecture: Otsuchi Town, Ofunato City, Rikuzen-takata City, Kamaishi City, Yamada Town

Fukushima Prefecture: Soma City, Minami-Soma City

Yamagata Prefecture: Kamiyama City

Type of Facilities

Evacuation centers, facilities for persons with disabilities, facilities for the elderly, social welfare councils, foster homes, shopping centers, social welfare corporations, volunteer centers, ambulatory facilities for the elderly, disaster countermeasures offices, temporary housing, evacuees’ homes, daycare centers, kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, others.

Supplies Delivered

Diesel oil (13,600 liters), Kerosene (4,400 liters), Gasoline (2,060 liters), Water (14 tons), Rice (2.5 tons), Milk (480 packs), Sweet-bean cakes (41,000 units), Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, spinach, cabbage, radishes, green onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, chives, eggplants, kidney beans, edamame beans, pumpkins, burdock roots, taro, sweet potatoes, Chinese cabbage, corn, Japanese mustard spinach, dried shiitake and others), Fruit (mandarin oranges, bananas, watermelons, grapefruits, melons, etc.), Eggs, Other food (retort foods, food for the elderly, canned food, miso, soy sauce, dietary supplements, etc.), Blankets, Bedclothes, Underclothes, Clothes and scarves, Towels and hand cloths, Furoshiki wrapping cloths, Face masks, Hand warmers, Sleeping bags (3,400 units), Cold medicine and other medical supplies, Toothbrushes, Paper diapers, Adult diapers, Women’s sanitary products, Batteries, Baby products (baby food, pacifiers, feeding bottles, baby wipes, etc.), High-pressure washers (32 units), Chainsaws (30 units), Shovels, Boots, Books and picture books, Crayons, Cell phone chargers, Computer sets (37 units), Printers (2 units), Photocopying machines (5 units), Bicycles (294 units), Sputum aspirators (2 units), Care beds (31 units), Folding beds (2 units), Futon sets (30 units), Wheelchairs (22 units), Care chairs (2 units), Walkers (35 units), Power generators (3 units), Laundry machines (29 units), Drying machines (23 units), Refrigerators (30 units), Microwave ovens (7 units), Electric fans (51 units), Vacuum cleaners (44 units), Air cleaners (16 units), Rice cookers (8 units), Futon dehumidifiers (34 units), Reflective heaters (5 units), Kerosene heaters (2 units), Automatic blood pressure meters (34 units), Television sets (33 units), Dish dryers (2 units), Electric fans, Dehumidifiers, Weight scales, Clothes irons, Ironing tables, Rotary printing machines, Pull carts, Dollies, Audio players (10 units), Portable radios, Walking sticks, Cooking knives, Cutting boards, Small shelving units, Bookshelves, Clothing cases, Disinfectant spray, Hand soap, Reading glasses, Stuffed toys, Other toys, Thermos bottles, Digital cameras, DVD players, Video cameras, Mattresses, Sheets, Cotton blankets, Pesticides, Bug repellant, Mosquito nets, Toilet paper, Laundry detergent, Kitchen detergent, Toilet soap, Laundry baskets, Hangers, Cleaning buckets, Paper dishes, Notebooks, Copy paper, Tinfoil and cling wrap, Grass-cutting scythes, Grass cutters, Cucumber seedlings, Tomato seedlings, Flower seedlings, Screen windows, Laundry poles, Summer clothes, Rubber boots, Sandals, Slippers, Ice packs, Neck coolers, Inflatable play pools, Nutritional supplements, Umbrellas, Taisho harp sets, Electric piano sets, Keyboards, Taiko drums, Tea ceremony sets, Other small musical instruments, Sewing machines, Scarves, Sweaters, Down jackets, Fleeces and other winter clothes, Farming boots, Garden supplies, Table tennis sets, Electrical generators (23 units), Foot-operated aspirators, Hearing aids, Braille printers, Cultivators, Air purifiers, Heated carpets, Rugs, Kotatsu (heated table) sets, Gas and electric heaters, Hot water bottles, Electric blankets, Curtains, Christmas trees, Portable power generators (113 units), Snow plows (5 units), Shovels for snow removal (180 units), Portable heaters (1,418 units), and others.

7. Institutional Reconstruction

In coordination with local construction companies, AAR JAPAN has been repairing senior care centers and facilities for persons with disabilities in approximately 50 locations to accelerate resumption of services. From April 21^st, 2011 to January 31^st, 2012 AAR JAPAN repaired and provided equipment to the following social welfare facilities and NGOs:

1. Rubert (Operated by Minori-kai, Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture)

2. Clovers Pier Wasse (Operated by Shinwa-kai, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

3. Workshop Himawari (Operated by Senshin-kai Yume-no-mori, Kesen-numa City, Miyagi Prefecture)

4. Gin-no-hoshi (Operated by Yamoto-aiiku-kai, Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture)

5. Kurihara-shuho-kai (Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture)

6. Himawari Family (Operated by Fureai-no-mori, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

7. Echo Ryouiku-en (Operated by Yoko Fukushi-kai, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

8. Coconet Autism Peering Center (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

9. Miyama-sou Special Nursing Home (Operated by Seiwa-kai, Yamamoto Town, Watari County, Miyagi Prefecture)

10. Kamuri Gakuen (Operated by Aisen-kai, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

11. Daimatsu Gakuen (Operated by Hoshin-kai, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

12. Group Home Kamikuri-sou (Operated by Kamaishi Kyosei-kai, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

13. Yoshihama-sou (Operated by Aisei-kai, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture)

14. Kojuen (Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

15. Lumbini-en (Operated by Korin-kai, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture)

16. Asunaro Home (Operated by Sansan-kai, Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

17. Yamada Kyosei Workshop (Operated by Yamada Kyosei-kai, Yamada Town, Shimohei County, Iwate Prefecture)

18. Taiyou-kai (Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

19. Machikado Counseling Link Matsubara Home (Operated by Aiiku-kai Social Welfare Corporation, Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

20. Care Home Megumi (Kesen-numa City, Miyagi Prefecture)

21. Harakara Fukushi-kai (Shibata Town, Shibata County, Miyagi Prefecture)

22. Cosmos House (Operated by Shiraishi Yoko Gakuen, Shiraishi City, Miyagi Prefecture)

23. Sakurambo Club (Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture)

24. Shiraishi Jukouen (Operated by Shiraishi Yoko Gakuen, Shiraishi City, Miyagi Prefecture)

25. Zao Suzushiro (Operated by Harakara Fukushi-kai, Zao Town, Katta County, Miyagi Prefecture)

26. Hatamaki Kyodo Workshop (Operated by Harakara Fukushi-kai, Igu County, Miyagi Prefecture)

27. Riverside Song, Song of the Surf, Seaside Song (Operated by Dreamers’ Home, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

28. Izumi Workshop (Operated by Aiko Fukushi Kyokai, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

29. Fukushi Net ABC (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

30. Hoyu-kan (Operated by Taiyo-kai, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture)

31. Sendai Tsudoi House Koppel (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

32. Nakata Sun Farm (Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture)

33. Jiai Fukushi Gakuen (Operated by Taiyo-kai, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture)

34. Kamaishi Work Station (Operated by Hoyu-kai, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

35. Warabi Gakuen (Operated by Warabi-kai, Otsuchi Town, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture)

36. Huck’s House (Tanohata Village Shimohei County, Iwate Prefecture)

37. Hamanasu Gakuen (Operated by Shinwa-kai, Yamada Town, Shimohei County, Iwate Prefecture)

38. Smile Workshop (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

39. Kibo-en (Operated by Katei Fukushi-kai, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

40. Miyako City Center for Persons with Disabilities (Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture)

41. Muraden Ltd. group home, Kesen-numa City, Miyagi Prefecture

42. Saiwai Town Welfare (Operated by Miyagi Persons with Disabilities Association, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

43. Full House Free Space Soleil (Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

44. Headquarters of Sarakara Sukushi-kai (Izumi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

45. Kosen Gakuen (Operated by Aisen-kai, Izumi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

46. Work Fale (Operated by Aisen-kai, Izumi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

47. Yamamoto Town Workshop (Operated by Yamamoto Town Social Welfare Cooperation, Yamamoto Town, Watari County, Miyagi Prefecture)

8. Vehicle Provision

AAR JAPAN has been providing vehicles as vital means of transportation for people who make use of welfare facilities. AAR JAPAN has provided the following vehicles:

AAR JAPAN delivers a large van to welfare facilities that are cut off from means of public transportation so that many of the users can ride at the same time. “It really helps the users who commute to the facility,” says the staff at Kamaishi Work Station in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture.

1. One (1) van – Nozomi Fukushi Workshop (Operated by Senshin-kai, Minami-sanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture)

2. One (1) mini-vehicle – Huck’s House (Tanohata Village, Shimohei County, Iwate Prefecture)

3. One (1) van – Kujira-no-shippo (Operated by Ishinomaki Shoshin-kai, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

4. One (1) mini-vehicle – Kick-off Career and Life Support Center for Persons with Disabilities (Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

5. One (1) van – Work House Atelier Sun (Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture)

6. One (1) elderly-care taxi – Yamazaki Taxi (Yamada Town, Shimohei County, Iwate Prefecture)

7. One (1) compact car – Hikami-no-sono (Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

8. One (1) mini-van – Group Home Kibogaoka (Operated by Harmony Utatsu, Minami-sanriku City, Motoyoshi County, Miyagi Prefecture)

9. Three (3) vehicles – Sasae-ai Yamamoto (Yamamoto Town, Watari County, Miyagi Prefecture)

10. One (1) mini-vehicle – Warabi Gakuen (Otsuchi Town, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture)

11. One (1) mini-vehicle – Kamaishi Workshop (Chidori Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

12. One (1) van – Suzuran-to-Katatsumuri (Takekoma Town, Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

13. One (1) vehicle – Madoka Arahama (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

14. One (1) elderly care taxi – Otsuchi Taxi (Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture)

15. One vehicle – Aozora (Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture)

16. One wagon with wheelchair lift – Yamada Kyosei Workshop (Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

9. Supporting Market Expansion for Products made by Persons with Disabilities

AAR JAPAN supports various workshops for persons with disabilities, many of which raise funds by selling products such as home-made sweets in their local area. Sales in the disaster-affected areas have decreased sharply since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and AAR JAPAN has been supporting the exploration of new markets for these welfare facilities’ products. We are currently supporting the following facilities:

1. Harakara Fukushi-kai (Shibata Town, Shibata County, Miyagi Prefecture)

2. Kurihara-shuho-kai (Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture)

3. Smile Workshop (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

4. Kamuri Gakuen (Operated by Aisen-kai, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

5. Fukushi Net ABC (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

6. Shomatsu-kan (Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

7. Asunaro Home (Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

8. Miyako Work Station (Miyako City, Miyagi Prefecture)

9. Kamaishi City Fukushi Workshop (Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

10. Warabi Gakuen (Otsuchi Town, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture)

11. Hoyu-kan (Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture)

10. Container Housing Project

January 31^st, 2012 – A container house is installed on the premise of Minami-sanriku Town Social Welfare Council. It will be used as an accommodation facility for long-term volunteers (Minami-sanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture)

At the recommendation of international journalist Izuru SUGAWARA, AAR JAPAN has been providing easy-to-build prefabricated container housing units in the disaster zone. To date, we have installed 52 units in Onagawa Town in Oshika County and in Minami-sanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture, and in Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture. These container housing units are being used by evacuees as private residences and small shops.

11. Hand-made Tote Bags Project

December 23^rd, 2011 – “Looking forward to choosing my favorite hand-made tote bag,” says a disaster survivor and user of Smile Workshop, a welfare facility for persons with disabilities. (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

AAR JAPAN collected hand-made tote bags in response to requests from people in evacuation centers and senior care facilities for bags in which to carry their personal belongings. By May 20^th, AAR JAPAN had received 5,000 bags from inside and outside of Japan. Volunteers helped to attach AAR JAPAN’s “Sunny-chan” mascot straps to the bags and deliver them to evacuees, with a special focus on the elderly. Survivors who received the bags were pleased not only with the bags themselves, but also with the various encouraging messages written inside.

The project was such a success that AAR JAPAN began collecting bags again in October. By November 14^th, AAR JAPAN had received 2,781 bags, which we are now distributing in the disaster-affected areas. Adults use our bags for shopping, while children use them for school.

12. Heart-Warming Chocolate Delivery Campaign

January 18^th, 2012 – Children are rejoiced to receive chocolate and handwritten messages by supporters. (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

In cooperation with Rokkatei Confectionery Co., Ltd., AAR JAPAN has been delivering chocolate to evacuees in the disaster-affected areas. When people order chocolate for themselves, they also buy chocolate for people in the disaster-affected areas, writing a message to accompany their donation. As of December 23^rd, 2011, we have delivered 384 packages of chocolate to evacuees at a temporary housing complex in Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture. The evacuees expressed great contentment with both the chocolate and the messages.

13. Charity Concerts

In cooperation with Support 21 Social Welfare Foundation, AAR JAPAN’s sister organization, we held a fund-raising concert at the Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo on May 20^th, 2011. Through concert revenues we provided 227 musical instruments to the following institutions, at an equivalent value of 35 million yen:

1. Takata Senior High School (Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

2. Takata Elementary School (Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture)

3. Kamaishi Higashi Junior High School (Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

4. Watanoba Junior High School (Ishinomaki Ciity,Miyagi Prefecture)

5. Minato Junior High School (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

6. Kobunkan Senior High School (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

7. Noda Junior High School (Noda Village, Iwate Prefecture)

8. Ishinomaki Brass Band Association (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

On August 5^th, 2011, we held another concert entitled “Concert of Heart: Hope” at Seinen Bunka Center in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, which many disaster survivors were able to enjoy for free.

On October 20^th, 2011, AAR JAPAN co-hosted “Hope” at the Lyceum Theatre in Shanghai, China, where eight Shanghai-based musicians performed a concert supporting reconstruction in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Led by Mr. Kaoru SHINSHI, the Shanghai-based Japanese volunteer group Friend played a vital role in the concert’s planning committee, which was headed by Mr. Hiroyoshi IKEDA of the Shanghai branch of MYTS Co., Ltd. AAR JAPAN’s Deputy Chairperson, Taki KATOH, presided at the concert.

14. “Let’s Bring Hot Springs to the Disaster Zone!” Project (Concluded)

In coordination with Manyo Club Co., Ltd. (Yokohama City, Kanagawa), Ascendia Inc.(Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo) and other companies, AAR JAPAN implemented the “Let’s Bring Hot Springs to the Disaster Zone!” Project. With the cooperation of Kanagawa Prefecture’s Yugawara Onsen (hot spring), on the first day of the project, April 9^th, AAR JAPAN delivered hot spring water to four sites that were used as evacuation centers in Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture: Yamoto Dai-ichi Junior High School, Akai City Center, Ushiami Community Center, and Asai Civic Center. After April 12^th, in partnership with Miyagi Prefecture’s Onikobe Onsen (hot spring), AAR JAPAN delivered hot spring water every day except Sundays to six evacuation centers: Yamoto Dai-ichi Junior High School (later divided into two locations), Ushiami Community Center, Akai City Center, Asai Civic Center, and Miyato Elementary School in Higashi-Matsushima City, as well as Ishinomaki Shoshin-kai Social Welfare Corporation in Ishinomaki City. These six delivery points enabled 500-600 evacuees to bathe every day, and AAR JAPAN provided the service until the end of May.

15. Shuttle Bus Service (Concluded)

In Miyagi, AAR JAPAN aided in the operation of a shuttle bus service on Ishinomaki City’s Oshika Peninsula, providing mobility for those who had lost their regular means of transportation. A light shuttle bus circulated twice a day in the Ogihama area and once a day in the Ayukawa area. Beginning April 10^th, approximately 530 people in the Ogihama area and 220 people in the Ayukawa area used the buses. The service was concluded on June 4^th after roads were repaired and normal bus lines resumed operation.

16. Mobile Clinics and Health-related Services (Concluded)

AAR JAPAN visited Makinohama, Takenohama, Kitsunezakihama, Sudachi, Fukkiura, Kozumihama, and Kobuchihama on the Oshika Peninsula, where approximately 640 survivors are taking shelter in their homes. Led by Dr. Toshiaki YASUDA, a local medical practitioner, AAR JAPAN’s medical team established a mobile clinic and implemented health-related services such as checking up on sufferers of chronic illnesses, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and implementing psychological support. We examined a total of 817 people between March 19^th, and September 18^th, 2011 Home-care nurses visited an additional 387 people in temporary housing in Ishinomaki City between August 10^thand September 15^th, 2011. This service ended on September 30^th, 2011 as local medical facilities resumed operation.

17. Sanitation Services (Concluded)

AAR JAPAN implemented sanitation services for approximately 1,000 people in evacuation centers in Ishinomaki City and Minami-sanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture. As futons, blankets, and mattresses became dirty as a result of long-term use in evacuation centers, we dried them in the sun and collected old and dirty futons to be replaced with summer-season bedding. We also engaged in general cleaning in evacuation centers, where the summer rise in humidity and temperature led to deterioration in sanitary conditions, including a huge increase in flies and mosquitoes. AAR JAPAN also distributed futon driers, vacuum cleaners, dehumidifiers, cleaning equipment, insect repellent and insecticides (fly tape, mite killer, etc.) with instructions on their use. To reduce the risk of food poisoning, we delivered refrigerators to evacuation centers that lacked them. We implemented these efforts in 25 evacuation centers from June 14^th, 2011 to August 31^st, 2011. This service ended on August 31^st, 2011.

18. Sportswear and Textbook Support for Students who Moved to Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture (Concluded)

In temporary housing complexes in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, people who evacuated from other areas in the prefecture (Minami-Soma City, Futaba Town, etc.) are settling into their new homes after a series of relocations. With each move, parents had to obtain new school sportswear and textbooks, which differ from school to school, when their children matriculated in local elementary schools. To ease the burden on parents, AAR JAPAN has been obtaining school sportswear and textbooks for students in Soma City, making distributions to 46 students between September and December 2011.

※All of the relief efforts outlined above are based on financial and material aid from private companies, various organizations and associations, schools, and individuals as well as Japan Platform. While it would be impossible to introduce all of our individual supporters, we offer you our sincerest thanks. We deeply appreciate your generous and continued support.

To see some of the international donors supporting our Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Activities, please refer to the following URL:

http://aarjapan.blogspot.com/2011/06/sincere-arigato-for-your-support-of-aar.html

YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT QUICKENS RECOVERY

MAKE DONATIONS NOW !!

Japan: Delivering Heaters to Evacuees Living in Government-Subsidized Housing

2012-02-02T18:35:00.007+09:00

What is “government-subsidized housing”?

Numerous houses were damaged by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11^th. The total numbers of houses that have been categorized as “fully destroyed” and “partially destroyed” are 120,000 and 200,000 respectively in the three most severely affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima. For those who had lost their places to live, 50,000 units of temporary public housing were constructed in these prefectures. On the other hand, approximately 50,000 households, the same number as those living in temporary public housing, are living in what is called “government-subsidized housing.” This temporary housing arrangement means that the evacuees individually rent houses or apartments on their own with partial subsidy from the government.

At temporary public housing units, many evacuees live in the same complex, which helps the government to grasp its up-to-date conditions and situations. Therefore, it is relatively easier to conduct distribution of relief items, and the residents socialize among one another quite often. Conversely, government-subsidized housing units are dispersed, causing the residents to face challenges such as being left out of disaster relief from the government and NGOs or their tendency to live in isolation.

In response, 8 NGOs including AAR JAPAN are engaged in a distribution project to deliver heating equipment to a total of 26,000 households living in government-subsidized housing in Miyagi Prefecture. AAR JAPAN took charge of 18 municipalities including Sendai City and is carrying out the heater delivery to a total of 9,000 households. As of January 20^th, 2012, AAR JAPAN has completed distribution in 14 municipalities. Among the recipients, there were some who only had a kotatsu (a table with an electric heater covered by a blanket) to keep themselves warm during the harsh winter that had long arrived in Tohoku, while the government and other organizations had already delivered heating equipment to evacuees at temporary public housing.

Municipalities of which AAR JAPAN is in charge:

Sendai City, Shibata Town, Matsushima Town, Misato Town, Wakuya Town, Kami Town, Marumori Town, Murata Town, Kawasaki Town, Kurihara City, Zao Town, Shichikashuku Town, Ogawara Town, Rifu Town, Taiwa Town, Osato Town, Tomiya Town, Ohira Village

To Keep the Elderly Warm, Who are Living in an Unfamiliar Environment

On December 20^th, AAR JAPAN delivered a heater to Ms. Kiyoko SAYAMA, 80 years old, who lives in a “government-subsidized” housing in Murata Town, Miyagi Prefecture. The earthquake caused the roof tiles to fall and the floor to collapse, severely damaging her house. Despite its uninhabitable condition, however, her house could not even be certified as “partially destroyed,” which disqualified her from receiving subsidy for repair work. Demolishing the building would cost her a few million yen, which Ms. SAYAMA living on a pension cannot afford.

December 20^th, 2011- Ms. Kiyoko SAYAMA (80 years old) in Tamura Town, Miyagi Prefecture. She is living alone in a government-subsidized house. At right, Sayako NOGIWA, AAR JAPAN’s Tohoku Office Representative.

Eventually, Ms. SAYAMA moved to an employment promotion housing unit in the same town last April. When AAR JAPAN staff visited her, she expressed various concerns such as her difficulty in walking, unfavorable health condition, and the fact that she would have to move out of the current accommodation in two years. The only heating equipment she had prior to AAR JAPAN’s delivery was a single kotatsu. The heater AAR JAPN delivered will not dissolve all of her concerns, but we cannot help but to hope that she is at least capable of enduring the winter without having to worry about being cold or getting sick. AAR JAPAN will continue its activities in the Tohoku region to support those who tend to be left out from other organizations’ relief aid.

December 22^nd, 2011- Ms. TAKADA (right) in Matsushima Town, Miyagi Prefecture. Her house was located along the coast where nothing remains after the tsunami. “As it gets colder and our air conditioner not functioning well, this heater will really help.” At left, Kentaro KOSUGE from AAR JAPAN’s Sendai Office.

December 16^th, 2011- Mr. and Mrs. KUMAGAYA in Taiwa Town, Miyagi Prefecture. “The heater we were using is very old and needed repair. We are very grateful for this heater delivery.”

*This activity was realized thanks to grants from AmeriCares and International Rescue Committee in addition to your generous donations.

Makoto EBINA, AAR JAPAN Sendai Office

After working at an IT company for 5 years, EBINA engaged in volunteer activities in the disaster-affected areas in the Tohoku region. He joined AAR JAPAN’s Sendai Office in June, 2011. (Born in Aomori Prefecture.)

YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT QUICKENS RECOVERY

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Japan: Sending Chocolates and Messages to Those Affected by the Disaster

2012-01-31T09:12:00.009+09:00

To Those Living in Temporary Houses in Fukushima Prefecture

Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR JAPAN), in collaboration with Rokkatei Confectionery Co. Ltd., a renowned sweets maker, is currently presenting its “Magokoro Campaign (literally meaning true heart campaign),” in which chocolate boxes are sent to those affected by the disaster. Messages of encouragement are sent along with the chocolate. If you purchase this chocolate (500 yen per box) from AAR JAPAN, we will make sure it is delivered to someone in the disaster area who would very much value such a gift. Up until now, we have delivered a total of 896 boxes to those affected living in Iitate Town and Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture.

January 18^th, 2012- We attached warm messages to the chocolate boxes. The children were very happy to receive chocolate, and told us they were “Super good!” (City Welfare Center (Hamanasu-kan) of Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

People in Tears from Reading Messages

On January 18^th, 2012, as the City Welfare Center (Hamanasu-kan) in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, we delivered chocolate boxes with messages to approximately 230 families living in temporary houses. One mother was found herself in tears from receiving a message that read “You are not alone, because there is always someone looking after you.” Reading the message over and over, she told us that such messages give her courage. There were also families that were jovially comparing messages with each other, asking “What kind of message did you get? Want to see mine?” There is also a separate episode where we delivered the chocolate to an elderly woman in her seventies who lost her family in the tsunami. We remember she broke down in tears at her front door as she received the gift, saying “Someone I’ve never met before is trying to help me.” People who are living in temporary houses have either lost their houses in the tsunami or were forced to evacuate their homes because they were too close to the nuclear power plants. So many of them have lost so much, and we were reminded of how much it means to them to receive heart-warming messages from strangers. We feel the power of words every time we make a delivery.

January 18^th, 2012- Those that received the chocolate boxes and the messages were all smiles. (City Welfare Center (Hamanasu-kan) in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

Ecstatic Children Say, ”These Chocolates are Great!”

The chocolate come in 6 flavors: raspberry, maple, black tea, mango, passion fruit, and green tea). They are popular among the children precisely because of its variety in flavors. The children looked very happy with sweets in their hands, and told us “These chocolate are great!”

We will continue to deliver gifts from the heart from time to time, along with other things that those affected find necessary. The “Magokoro Campaign” will continue until the end of March. Please continue to check in and support our efforts going forward.

January 18^th, 2012- “What flavor is this color?” asks a boy about each and every color. (City Welfare Center (Hamanasu-kan) in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

Ekuko YOKOYAMA, AAR JAPAN

From Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture. Served in the Health Group of the Self Defense Navy for 4 years. Visited various countries during college, and participated in mine removal in Cambodia, while helping an organization serving Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. Joined AAR JAPAN after the earthquake in Japan in 2011. Currently assigned to Soma Follower Team (a separate NPO).

AAR JAPAN will ensure that your support reaches earthquake and tsunami survivors.

Donate Now!

Turkey: We Are Continuing Distribution of Relief Supplies in Snow-Covered Disaster Areas

2012-01-31T08:26:00.020+09:00

Winter has arrived in the eastern part of Turkey where a massive earthquake struck last October, and the disaster site is now covered in snow. Construction of temporary housing has not seen progress, and many disaster survivors are still living in tents and temporary shacks.

AAR JAPAN’s emergency relief team consisting of 3 members (Kiyoto ONISHI, Yoshifumi KAWABATA, Norihiro FUJIMOTO) has been distributing food items (flour and cooking oil) as well as daily essentials (undergarments, soap, towels, hand cream, women’s sanitary products, etc.) to each of the disaster-affected households around the city of Van. Moreover, we have added cold-resistant aluminum sheets that were generously donated by Mitani Sangyo, Inc. (Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture), which are being used as bedding and floor covering to combat the harsh cold weather in the region. From January 22^nd to January 28^th, we have distributed relief supplies to approximately 860 households in a total of 16 villages.

January 22^nd, 2012- Kiyoto ONISHI (right) hands a bucket full of relief supplies to a father and his daughter.

“We were able to move in to temporary housing, but life is difficult.”
We asked Reis Yilmaz (38 years old) of Esenpinar Village regarding the earthquake and his life thereafter. “I had never experienced such a large earthquake. Nothing but fear can describe what I felt. Our current temporary housing is more comfortable compared to the tent we were in immediately after the earthquake, but governmental assistance including food supplies is far from enough. We plan to use the flour we received from AAR JAPAN for baking bread. Thank you so much for coming to help us from such a far away place.” In regard to the aluminum sheets, he added, “We have never seen these sheets before, but they sure look warm!” The children wrapped themselves up in the sheets right away and smiled.

January 24^th, 2012- People gathered to collect the relief supplies in spite of the heavy snow.

January 22^nd, 2012- Reis Yilmaz and his family live in temporary housing. Pictured on the right is Norihiro FUJIMOTO of AAR JAPAN.

January 22^nd, 2012- The children try out the cold-resistant aluminum sheets.

Distributed Items per Family
Food Items: flour (50kg), cooking oil (10L)
Daily Essentials: cold-resistant aluminum sheets (2), soap (700g), detergent (3kg), hand cream (100g x 2), towels (1 large, 2 small), undergarments (2 adult men, 2 adult women, 2 boys, 2 girls), women’s sanitary products (2 packets), bucket (1)

We Are Also Setting Up Huts for Baking Bread

We are also setting up bread-baking huts in the disaster-affected areas. In this region, flour-based bread called naan is eaten as staple food, and most families had ovens in their homes to bake naan. However, these ovens were lost in the earthquake. Families must now purchase bread from stores and this has become a financial burden.

In response, AAR JAPAN has been setting up huts in the villages of the disaster-affected areas, which can be shared among the villagers to bake bread. Huts that are assembled in Van City are transported to each village and then placed where they can be easily accessed by all of the villagers. Bread can be baked using the furnace that is inserted underground beneath the hut. As of January 28^th, 17 huts have been placed across 4 villages, and we plan to deliver furnaces in the near future.

January 21^st, 2012- Using a trailer, an already-assembled hut for barking bread is transported to each village.

* This project was made possible thanks to a grant provided by Japan Platform in addition to generous individual donations.

Norihiro FUJIMOTO, AAR JAPAN Tokyo office

Joined AAR JAPAN’s Tokyo office in November 2011. After working at a private company for 3 years, studied in New Zealand for approximately half a year. Then worked at a human resource consulting firm and joined AAR JAPAN with the desire to help those in need.

South Sudan: Easy Access to Water Is Achieved By New Water Supply System

2012-01-26T08:50:00.017+09:00

South Sudan has just only become an independent country in July 2011, but AAR JAPAN’s water and sanitation project there started as early as 2006. Since then, 96 wells and 6 water supply systems have been constructed in different locations of Eastern Equatoria, one of the 10 states of the Republic of South Sudan. This report offers information about the water supply system that was completed in October 2011 in Kapoeta Town (Kapoeta South County).

October 17^th, 2011- Each water tank has a capacity of 5,000 liters. Through pipelines, the water is distributed to three distant tap stands.

January 6^th, 2012- Children waiting for their turn at the tap stand (in the back left: AAR JAPAN field staff Takeshi IKEDA). A fence with a gate has been built around the tap stand to allow for controlled dispensing of water at fixed hours.

Kapoeta is home to several different ethnic groups and the population density is high. Due to the continuous population growth in recent years, the number of existing wells has become insufficient. As a result, the wells are overcrowded and this leads to incessant quarrels about whose turn is next and about the amount of water people are allowed to fetch.

In view of this situation, AAR JAPAN decided to build a water tower at the existing well in Kapoeta Town in order to provide access to water to a larger number of people. A solar energy powered pump transports the water to an elevated tank, six meters above the ground. From there, 470 meters of pipelines send the water to three separate tap stands.

October 17^th, 2011- Each tap stand is furnished with three faucets for easy water fetching.

Every tap stand has its own management committee, formed by residents of the neighborhood. AAR JAPAN has provided training sessions to the committee members, with the purpose of enabling local residents to manage the water supply system on their own initiative. As part of the training, the members have been guided to define by themselves a set of rules for proper administration of the tap stands, such as opening and closing times, and to come up with ideas for improving sanitary conditions around the wellspring. In January 2012, AAR JAPAN concluded the implementation of a similar water supply system in Budi County, Eastern Equatoria.

“I’m so glad the troubles of water fetching are over” – Interview with Alima LOPIDINE.

Alima LOPIDINE (26) uses the tap stand every day.

“In our family of six”, Alima says, “we use eight 20-liter containers of water per day. Previously, we had to spend a long time every day waiting at the crowded well, and there was always fighting about whose turn it is. But now at the tap stand, we just twist the tap and plenty of water comes out. In our community, it is the job of the women and children to fetch water. I’m so glad that the children are now freed from this labor. Thanks to the shorter wait time at the tap stand, the children can spend more time in school.”

* This project has been funded by individual donations in addition to a grant received from Japan Platform.

Shoichi TOYOI, AAR JAPAN South Sudan Office, Kapoeta

Has been working at the South Sudan office in Kapoeta since June, 2010. After graduating from university, first worked for a private company. Later on, joined the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in a development project in rural Uganda. After his return to Japan, joined AAR JAPAN. (Born in Hyogo Prefecture.)

Cambodia: “All of the Relief Supplies Will Be Useful. Thank You.”

2012-01-18T18:23:00.004+09:00

We Have Delivered Food Items and Daily Necessities to 3,000 Households

AAR JAPAN has been continuing its emergency assistance activities in Cambodia in response to the massive flooding that occurred last year. After our distribution activities of relief items on December 29^th, 2011, January 5^th, and January 12^th, 2012, a total of approximately 3,000 households have been reached. In the future, we plan to distribute vegetable seeds to the flood victims so that they are able to grow and eat vegetables. We would like to thank all of our supporters and look forward to your continuous support.

Distributed Items per Family

25kg of rice, 1 bag (1kg) of salt, 1 bottle (1L) of cooking oil, 1 bottle (1L) of soy sauce, 1 bottle (0.5L) of fish sauce^*1, 10 cans of canned fish, 1 box (50 packs) of instant noodles, 1 bag of biscuits, 1 mosquito net, 1 blanket, 4 bars of soap, 1 bag of detergent, 1 bucket, 1 laundry bucket, 1 women’s lower garment (sarong), 1 multi-purpose cloth (krorma)

Areas of Distribution Thus Far

2011

November 15^th	Kandal Province, Khsach Kandal District, Koh Chauram	200 families
November 15^th	Kandal Province, Khsach Kandal District, Prek Ampil	100 families
December 1^st	Siem Reap Province, Siem Reap, Krabei Riel	231 families
December 1^st	Siem Reap Province, Siem Reap, Sambour	136 families
December 8^th	Siem Reap Province, Siem Reap, Chong Khneas	242 families
December 8^th	Siem Reap Province, Siem Reap, Chong Khneas	141 families
December 15^th	Siem Reap Province, Siem Reap, Chreav	401 families
December 22^nd	Siem Reap Province, Chi Kreing District, Anlong Samnor	300 families
December 22^nd	Siem Reap Province, Chi Kreing District, Chi Kreing	100 families
December 29^th	Siem Reap Province, Chi Krieng District, San Veuy	400 families

2012

January 5^th	Kampong Thom Province, Kampong Svay District, Khampong Kou	380 families
January 12^th	Siem Reap Province, Chi Kreing District, Anlong Samnor	238 families
January 12^th	Siem Reap Province, Chi Kreing District, Chi Kreing	131 families

Voice of Ms. Eat Thy (43 years old) Living in Khampong Kou

January 5^th, 2012- Ms. Eat Thy (right) receives a set of relief supplies. On the left is Noriyasu OKAYAMA of the AAR JAPAN Vientiane office. (Kampong Thom Province, Khampong Kou)

“My husband normally makes a living by fishing. Our daughters are 16 and 17 years old. The level of the floodwater became waist-high. I think it took about 3 months for the water to completely subside. We had no choice but to stay inside our house during the flooding and my husband couldn’t go fishing.”

“Before, I used to own chickens and ducks, about 10 of each, and sold them as they grew, but the birdhouse sunk in the floods and all of them drowned. Our banana and palm trees also died after being submerged in water.”

January 5^th, 2012- Ms. Eat Thy (right) expresses her gratitude to Tomoko SONODA (left) of the Tokyo headquarters office and local staff member, Socheat (center). (Kampong Thom Province, Khampong Kou)

“I have a disability in my right leg, which makes it impossible for me to go out and work. I had no money to buy food during the floods so I had to make a loan. Our daughters are almost at the age of starting high school, but they would have to commute to the city of Kampong Thom. We currently don’t have much money to spare and I’m afraid it’s going to be difficult to send them to school.”

“Every item that we have been provided will be useful and we are extremely thankful. The rice would last us about half a month. The mosquito net that we are using now is old and has holes in it, and I plan to put up the new one that we just received tonight. Thank you so much.”

January 12^th, 2012- Mr. Thaing Thy (right, 45 years old) lost his right foot in a landmine accident when he was about 20 years old. The floods destroyed the rice crops that were soon to be harvested, and the amount of fish he’s able to catch has also decreased. On the left is Tomoko SONODA of the Tokyo headquarters office. (Siem Reap Province, Anlong Samnor)

January 12^th, 2012- Ms. Sar Socheat’s (second from the left) rice crops and corn were completely damaged. “I was worried that my 3 year-old son would fall in the water during the flooding. I hope that I can replant the corn.” On the far left is local staff member, Socheat and on the far right is Yuichiro YAMAMOTO of the Tokyo headquarters office. (Siem Reap Province, Chi Kreing)

* This project was made possible thanks to a grant provided by Japan Platform in addition to generous individual donations.

Noriyasu OKAYAMA, AAR JAPAN Vientiane Office

Has been working in AAR JAPAN Vientiane Office since June, 2004. After graduating university, spent 2 years as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer in Bangladesh. Before joining AAR JAPAN, implemented ODA projects in Fisheries Agency, and then worked on rural development in Nepal for 5 years. (Born in Aichi Prefecture)

Japan: Ten Months after the Great East Japan Earthquake: Activity Report

2012-01-16T16:46:00.050+09:00

Meeting a New Year with the Survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake

December 18^th, 2011　– AARJAPAN delivers snow shovels to people at Kamaishi Hakozaki No. 3 Temporary Housing Complex. (Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

The New Year has begun, and AAR JAPAN has been distributing winter necessities and equipment for snow removal to people living in temporary housing complexes. In addition, we are continuing to support the Building Healthy Communities Project, offering community interaction and exchange events for disaster survivors, many of whom all too easily end up spending their entire day isolated behind closed doors. 10 months have passed since the earthquake, and AAR JAPAN hopes to continue its relief efforts for the people of the disaster-affected areas.

Below is a report on the activities that AAR JAPAN’s supporters have enabled us to carry out in the last 10 months:

AAR JAPAN’s Projects in Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake

1. Delivering Relief to Families in Temporary Housing and Leased Housing in Fukushima Prefecture

2. Support for Food Service at Schools in Minami-soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

3. Sportswear and Textbook Support for Students who Moved to Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

4. Psychological Care for Children in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

5. Building Healthy Communities Project

6. Delivery of Relief Supplies

7. Soup Kitchens

8. Reconstruction of Facilities for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities

9. Vehicle Provision

10. Supporting Market Expansion for Products made by Persons with Disabilities

11. Container Housing Project

12. Hand-made Tote Bags Project

13. Heart-Warming Chocolate Delivery Campaign

14. Charity Concerts

15. “Let’s Bring Hot Springs to the Disaster Zone!” Project (concluded)

16. Shuttle Bus Service (concluded)

17. Mobile Clinic (concluded)

18. Sanitation Services (concluded)

1. Delivering Relief to Families in Temporary Housing and Leased Housing in Fukushima Prefecture

December 20^th, 2011 – Kitchenware is delivered to Mr. and Mrs. Seiichi and Toshiko SHIOYA, who evacuated from Minami-Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture. At right is Atsushi NAOE of AAR JAPAN. (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture)

In cooperation with ADRA Japan, we have been supporting the day-to-day livelihoods of families living in temporary housing and subsidized housing in Fukushima Prefecture. As the Japanese Red Cross has distributed six-piece sets of home electrical appliances in earthquake- and tsunami-affected areas, AAR JAPAN has focused on providing items such as kitchenware, bathroom goods, vacuum cleaners, kotatsu (heated tables) and regular tables, kitchen cabinets, and so on, based on requests from municipal governments. We are targeting 13 municipalities in the Hamadori and Nakadori regions of Fukushima Prefecture: Soma City, Minami-soma City, Shinchi Town, Iitate Village, Tomioka Town, Kawauchi Village, Koriyama City, Sukagawa City, Kagamiishi Town, Shirakawa City, Nishigo Village, Yabuki Town, and Izumisaki Village. Following a request from the municipal governments of Minami-Soma City and Tomioka Town, both located within 20 km of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, we are also providing supplies to survivors who have taken refuge in other prefectures.

In order to contribute to the economic recovery of the local communities, we are collaborating with the local Commerce and Industry Associations in 10 municipalities to source as many aid goods locally as possible. As of December 31s, 2012, we have completed the delivery of relief supplies to 21,834 households in the target area.

2. Support for Food Service at Schools in Minami-soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

3. Sportswear and Textbook Support for Students who Moved to Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

September 21^st, 2011 – New students receive sportswear from their teacher. (Ohno Elementary School, Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

4. Psychological Care for Children (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

AAR JAPAN has been supporting the SOMA Follower Team, a nonprofit organization formed by Soma City to provide psychological care for children. The six-person team includes clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and healthcare workers who have been providing psychological care for students and their parents at affected kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools in Soma City.

5. Building Healthy Communities Project

December 11^th, 2011 – AAR JAPAN offers calisthenics for persons with disabilities at Okuni no Sato temporary housing complex. (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Massages/Calisthenics

Psychological Care

Community Interaction and Exchange Events

Ÿ Festival at Wako Kindergarten in Shichi-ga-hama Town, Miyagi Prefecture (July 23^rd)

Ÿ Bon Festival in Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture (August 15^th)

Ÿ Higashi-hama Elementary School on the Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi Prefecture (August 18^th)

Ÿ Touni Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (August 20^th).

Ÿ Otomo Town, Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture (August 20^th)

Ÿ -Offering aromatherapy at Higashi-hama Elementary School in Miyagi Prefecture (August 23^rd)

Ÿ Workshop for persons with disabilities in Yamada Town, Chimohei County, Iwate Prefecture (August 26^th)

Ÿ Temporary housing complex in Kasshi Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (August 27^th)

Ÿ Temporary housing complex in Shichi-ga-hama Town, Miyagi Prefecture (August 28^th)

Ÿ Temporary housing complex in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (September 11^th)

Ÿ Gym of Nakano Junior High School in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (September 17^th)

Ÿ Day room in a temporary housing complex in Kashinai, Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture (September 24^th)

Ÿ Temporary housing complex in Kuribayashi Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (September 25^th)

Ÿ Gym of Nakano Junior High School in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (September 25^th)

Ÿ In front of a shop in Sakuragi Town, Otsuchi Town, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture (September 28^th)

Ÿ Temporary housing complex in Kesen Town, Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture (October 2^nd)

Ÿ Festival at Kurosaki Shrine in Hirota Town, Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture (October 9^th)

Ÿ “Everyone’s Festival Bureiko” in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (October 10^th)

Ÿ Dosen Subsidized Apartments in Kasshi Town, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (October 16^th)

Ÿ Higashi-hama Elementary School in Iwate Prefecture (October 11^th)

Ÿ Otsuchi Dai-kyu Temporary Housing Complex in Otsuchi Town, Kamihei County, Iwate Prefecture (October 23^rd)

Ÿ Taki-no-Sato in Takekoma, Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture (October 25^th)

Ÿ Work House Atelier Sun in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture

Ÿ Nakano Sakae Community Center in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (November 27^th)

Ÿ Temporary Housing Complex in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (December 10^th)

Ÿ Yamada Kyosei Workshop in Yamada Town, Iwate Prefecture (December 13^th)

Ÿ Shakunage no Kai facility for persons with severe disabilities in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture (December 14^th)

Ÿ Day room in Hibiki Temporary Housing Complex in Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture (December 14^th)

Ÿ Higashi-hama Elementary School in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture

Ÿ Tsubaki Factory workshop for persons with intellectual disabilities in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture (December 19^th)

Ÿ Suzuran-to-Katatsumuri in Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture (December 20^th)

6. Delivery of Relief Supplies

December 2^nd, 2011 – A portable power generator is delivered to Yuta KURAKANE (7 years old), who uses an artificial respirator, an oxygen aspirator and an electric wheelchair. At left is Yuko OGASAWARA of AAR JAPAN. (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Relief Supplies Delivered to Affected Areas from March 14^th to December 31^st

Provided to 82,292 people in 1,382 locationsProvided to 82,292 people in 1,382 locations

Distribution Areas

Miyagi Prefecture:

Sendai City, Ishinomaki City, Kesen-numa City, Natori City, Tome City, Higashi-Matsushima City, Onagawa Town, Tagajo City, Iwanuma City, Minami-sanriku Town, Yamamoto Town, Shiogama City

Iwate Prefecture:

Otsuchi Town, Ofunato City, Rikuzen-takata City, Kamaishi City, Yamada Town

Fukushima Prefecture:

Soma City, Minami-Soma City

Yamagata Prefecture:

Kamiyama City

Type of Facilities

Supplies Delivered

7. Soup Kitchens

In coordination with Ingram Co., Ltd., which is responsible for the Peace Project, AAR JAPAN has been organizing soup kitchens in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures. The project began on March 31^st, and as of November 25^th, AAR JAPAN held soup kitchens in the following locations. Since August, the soup kitchens have been operated as part of the Building Healthy Communities Project.

December 10^th, 2011 – A soup kitchen at a temporary housing complex in Ishinomaki. “I haven’t seen the neighbors for a while, so I want to bring this to them.” (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

In coordination with Ingram Co., Ltd., which is responsible for the Peace Project, AAR JAPAN has been organizing soup kitchens in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures. The project began on March 31^st, and as of January 7^th, 2012, AAR JAPAN held soup kitchens in the 73 locations. Since August, the soup kitchens have been operated as part of the Building Healthy Communities Project.

Soup Kitchen Locations (25,671 meals served in 73 locations)

Miyagi Prefecture:

Iwate Prefecture:

Kamaishi City, Rikuzen-takata City, Taro Town in Miyako City, Yamada Town, Otsuchi Town

Fukushima Prefecture:

Haramachi Ward in Minami-Soma City

Menu

8. Institutional Reconstruction

A temporary workshop for persons with disabilities, constructed to replace the original facility, which was washed away by the tsunami on March 11^th, 2011. (Kamaishi Work Station, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

In coordination with local construction companies, AAR JAPAN has been repairing senior care centers and facilities for persons with disabilities in approximately 50 locations to accelerate resumption of services. From April 21^st to December 31^st, AAR JAPAN repaired and provided equipment to the following social welfare facilities and NGOs: