Sunday 11 March marked the one-year anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that caused major destruction and devastation to Japan’s eastern coastal communities.
Thanks to donations from the Irish public, the Red Cross is able to continue supporting the recovery of affected communities in Japan.
Over the last 12 months the Red Cross has reached almost 280,000 disaster-affected individuals. Donations from Ireland, made to the Irish Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal, are being used to support those in temporary housing, children, the elderly as well as health infrastructure.
Many families lost everything they had to the tsunami, including their homes and income. For those left homeless, the government of Japan constructed 70,000 prefabricated shelters in three prefectures. The Red Cross continues to support these families by supplying psychosocial support as well as appliance packages.
The Red Cross is also supporting the recovery of schools and nursing homes in the disaster area, purchasing school buses, helping to equip school gymnasia and sick bays, and buying clothing and cutlery sets, as well as providing other equipment, such as computers. In the nursing centres the Red Cross is providing special adjustable beds and vehicles.
The focus of much of the Red Cross activity has now moved towards helping survivors in temporary homes. Red Cross volunteers and staff conduct regular psychosocial activities in the community centres serving those living in temporary housing settlements. Growing numbers of residents are taking part, helping to bond the temporary communities together as local people increasingly reach out to the most vulnerable in their midst
The Irish Red Cross would like to thank everyone who donated to the Japan Tsunami appeal. With this support the Red Cross is able to continue its activities in Japan – activities that are essential to those left in need by the wall of water that swept away life as they once knew it.
Irish Red Cross
16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
