Tag Archives: Japan quake & tsunami

Child-Friendly Space opens in Japan

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Guest blogger in Disaster Relief

World Vision's Maikba Yamano leads children's activities at the CFS. (Itoh Kei/WV/2011)

Editor’s note: In the aftermath of tragedy and disaster, World Vision uses Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) to care for children by providing them with a safe place to learn, play and emotionally recover from the trauma they’ve faced. (For more on how we use CFS, read Freedom of imagination) The following was shared with us by Nanako Otsuki, communications officer with World Vision Japan. Zenin syugo, meaning “everyone gathering together”, is the name children in Tome City have come up with for their new playing ground, a World Vision CFS. The name fits perfectly for its purpose, providing children with a venue to come together and share their experiences as they begin the road to recovery. All the children come from...

Suffer together, rebuild together — notes from a Japan aid worker

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Lindsey Talerico-Hedren in Disaster Relief, Stories

In Miaygi, urvivors of the quake and tsunami gather their belongings and relief supplies. (Itoh Kei/WV/2011)

March 29, 2011- It’s 7:00 am, an aftershock shakes the building awake. It's big, lasts for maybe 30 seconds. Even two weeks after the quake and tsunami, tremors and ripples continue to wreak havoc and remind survivors of their fears and losses. I’m in Miyagi, one of the hardest-hit areas, with World Vision’s emergency response team. We’re.......

“I am so grateful” — a tsunami survivor’s story

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Guest blogger in Disaster Relief, Stories

A tsunami survivor tells her story at a safe shelter in Minami Sanriku. (Lisa Moody/WV/2011)

Sachie is the mother of one year and four month old Kouka. She told World Vision Japan about the day when earthquake occurred. This is her story: “Kouka was having a nap in the house when the earthquake occurred. I took Kouka right away and ran out side, but the earth was shaking for quite a long time." .......

Do’s and don’ts of supporting disaster relief

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Lindsey Talerico-Hedren in Disaster Relief

Damaged coastline of Minami Sanriku, Japan-- one of the hardest hit areas by the tsunami. (Mitsuko Sobata/WV/2011)

In the last week in Japan, over 7,000 people have died. Close to another 11,000 are missing. Over 2,500 suffer from injuries. We all want to help. But it’s the wanting to help that’s the easy part. It’s how best to help, that is the real question. Sometimes our good intentions.......

Children are our hope — notes from a Japan aid worker

Posted on March 19, 2011 by World Vision field communicators in Disaster Relief, Stories

hildren affected by the tsunami at a safe shelter in Minami Sanriku with Nobuhiko Katayama, WV Japan National Director. (Mitsuko Sobata/WV/2011)

Editor’s note: The following note is from Mitsuko Sobata, World Vision Japan communications and advocacy officer, on the ground with World Vision relief and assessment teams. March 18, 2011- Yesterday, World Vision Japan relief teams ........