NZ Freephone From 14- 16 April, the Kumamotu prefecture in southern Japan has been hit by earthquakes reaching from 6.4 to 7.3 magnitude and over 500 aftershocks. Some 42 people have died and over 1,000 people are injured. More than 2,000 homes have collapsed. If you can, please help now.
CWS will get your donations to help those affected. Church World Service Japan is working closely with the local YMCA running one evacuation centre. Around 33,000 people especially elderly remain the in evacuation centres.
29 April 2016
Oki (right)is the staff member from the local authority responsible for managing the evacuation centre. He works closely with Fukuyama(right) works for the YMCA.
“What I can say about YMCA’s operation is that they show the utmost hospitality towards the evacuees”, he said. Oki says the YMCA’s management far exceeds the official guidelines on running evacuation centres. He also appreciated YMCA’s flexibility in dealing with the ever changing environment on the ground. “The fact that we can continuously discuss and find solutions together is really encouraging for us”, he said.
Life in evacuation centres is really stressful because of the lack of privacy, uncertainty towards recovery, deterioration of health condition. The local authority and YMCA work to create a ‘stress-free’ environment in Mifune town. It seems like ‘real partnership’ probably due to the common vision of serving the affected community members.
CWS Japan has most recently been deeply involved in supporting and advocating for the children of Fukushima affected by radiation.
