Miyagi Support Center News "Link (Yui)" No. 2, April 6, 2011
“Let’s support our fellows in Tohoku with our bonds of friendship and strengths.”
Issued by the Miyagi Support Center of the Japan Disability Forum (JDF) HQs for the Support of Persons with Disabilities affected by the East Japan Great Earthquake.
Office: c/o Sendai Work Campus, Taihaku-ku, Sendai city.
Phone and fax: +81-22-306-4663
We have now completed 7 days of needs assessments. Various needs have been identified and collaborations with related organizations are increasing. On the 7th (Thursday) we organized an exchange meeting with the cooperation of the Miyagi Support Association for Persons with Disabilities affected by the Great earthquake.
Number of visits from Miyagi Support center (up to April 6th):
- Support centers/facilities for persons with disabilities : 70
- Shelters: 34
- Towns and villages: 24
- Related organizations: 17
- Provided information materials at 17 places.
- Interviews: 8 persons.
- Individuals visited: 2.
- Number of people who worked for the center: 115.
●From the surveys diary:
April 6, Kesennuma-city.
4 out of 9 homes have been completely washed away. So far the whereabouts of only 30% of members has been verified. Living in the unfamiliar surroundings of shelters can be stressful and some persons rather avoid going there.
April 5, Iwanuma-city, Sendai-city
The people here are really supporting each other, for example a day-care for children will also look after other children. A workshop that used to sell lunch boxes lost its orders. It used its food stocks to provide meals for people in the area.
April 5 & 6, Ishinomaki-city
On request of a spinal cord injured person we cleaned out the home of mud, cleared things up and disinfected to the person’s great satisfaction “I can live in my home again”.
●Welcome and a Thank You: visitors
Eminent persons from leading welfare and disability organizations came to visit. Our representative Eiichi Ogawa expressed our gratitude for all their support activities.
● From the office:
51 persons from all over Japan have been active for us up to April 6th. We have responded to individuals’ requests for support. Enterprises in the city have also offered their support to us. We are also coordinating offers of support from all over Japan and planning their activities in small groups on a daily basis.
● A word from a member of the survey team:
Survivors: You might get exhausted by giving your utmost in a situation of sadness and anguish. We will find out what your needs are and do our whatever we can, even if only little things, to give you strength.
Activity record:
April 4 (Monday): Miyagi support for survivors with disabilities meeting
April 5 (Tuesday): departure for Kesennuma-city for needs survey (one night, two days)
April 6 (Wednesday): to Minamisanriki area for meeting doctors group from the spinal cord injured collaborative.
Activities have just begun. There are still many many who need support. We need people with cars who can support our work!!!
The ship passed over the platform of the train station due to Tsunami.
The regular meeting
From the right, Mr. Eiichi Ogawa, Representative of JDF, Mr. Yuji Mori, Chair of JDF Policy committee, Mr. Kazuhiko Abe of Sendai Association of Persons with Disabilities in Sendai and other related people. Mr. Ogawa expressed his appreciation to attendants for their support activity.
Translated by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Volunteer Translator: Mr. Peter Bontje