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Miyagi Support Center News "Link (Yui)" No. 6, April 23, 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 are implementing visits for survey to centers where hit by the disaster, and assessment and response to needs of PWDs at home and shelters. When centers were visited for survey, goods and materials were provided as response for their demands in cooperation with other organization and governmental bodies. Some of our activities became models of supports for survivors, and they will lead us to reconstruction in near future.

Quick provision of goods and materials in cooperation with Association for Aid and Relief (AAR)

We are continuing visits for survey, mainly to shelters, for confirming safety of PWDs and needs assessment. It is a reality that survivors at shelters have not received sufficient goods and materials yet.
In such situation, we had information that a support center in Kesen-numa was suffering from luck of foods and necessities for daily life. Through consideration of effective response, it became possible to send goods and materials in cooperation with AAR; such as 5 wheel chairs, 5 rain-covers for wheel chair, 2 boxes of retort-packed rice, and a lantern-type light. These needs came from a support center, and through the center it was succeeded that needed goods were provided to PWDs who lived in difficult condition at home.
On the other hand, 6 survivors with disabilities at shelter “Heisei-no-Mori Cottage” in Minami-Sanriku town received earphones of radio, Clothes for summer and boxes of tissues. 6 persons live in an eight-mat room in this shelter. It was difficult for survivors with disabilities even to go out, and they were in severe atmosphere due to unclear future life. However, as soon as they received clothes for summer, the atmosphere changed completely with a shout of joy. In Minami-Sanriku town, water supply has not recovered yet, and unstable life is still continuing. In such situation, we are trying to meet their further needs, such as assistance for locomotion, recreation and etc.
In this time, the cooperation with AAR made it possible to collect and provide goods and materials quickly. As the result, relationship of mutual trust between AAR and our center has been established, and it may lead us to further cooperation.
As activities of the center, we will continue emergency supports. And at the same time we will work for releasing information and responding to needs through investigation of the actual conditions of survivors.

At a shelter in Minami-Sanriku town on 20th April
Photo1: At a shelter in Minami-Sanriku town on 20th April

Number of visits (on 22nd April)

  supporter shelter city/town/village support center for PWDs related organization home/others
The day 40 42 9 14 9 17
Total 699 430 120 238 71 104

 

From the surveys diary

Story from a home visit

One day we visited a man in sixties. Because he worried that he might make trouble for others in shelter, he lives alone in his house damaged by the disaster. He told us, “If I can see even by single eye, I would have worked for others. But both my eye cannot see well, difficult to see in proper perspective”. When we visited him, he didn’t have sufficient support, only foods he had were 4 bottles of green tea, and he had food only a time or nothing per day. We need to work for such people who are left outside of shelters.

A word from a member of the survey team

When I arrived at Sendai city, I didn’t realize damage of the disaster, because it was less-damaged area. However, I found how terrible disaster it was through activities in the area severely damaged. Although it may take long time for reconstruction, I will continue to support for survivors to have their smiles from hearts as early as possible. (a supporter from Tokyo)
I came with my 2 friends, one from Fukuoka and another from Kumamoto. It took 28 hours from Fukuoka. I spent a busy and heavy week. I saw unforgettable scene with my own eyes, and now I believe that it is my mission to talk about pain of survivors’ life and determination for reconstruction by the Miyagi center, widely as I can. Let’s continue support activities in each hometown. (A supporter from Fukuoka)

From a meeting
Photo 2: From a meeting

I have never imagined my first visit to Sendai was for volunteer at disaster response.
Scenes I have never experienced before. There are ships and smell of sea inland far away from coast. Traces of damages of Tsunami that broke a 4 floors building of a primary school down, just like a small sand hill on beach.
Through trips to find out survivors who are waiting for assistance, I couldn’t feel any achievement but lack of knowledge and power. However, I have learnt more than any trainings and lectures.
Even after my going back to Tokyo, someone may keenly wait for assistance.
I think we can do something wherever we are, and believe it will be all right if we help each other with hope, although it is said reconstruction will need decades.
I feel that I was told, “no one alone, everyone together”.
I want to visit Sendai again in future to enjoy beautiful coastal scene and hot springs. (A supporter from Tokyo)

Total number of supporters by April 22nd; 120 from 14 prefectures.

Activity record

April 18th, Monday: "the 2nd meeting to exchange information on East Japan Great Earthquake" was held by association of Miyagi to support survivors with disabilities and JDF Miyagi center. April 19th, Tuesday: Visit for survey to a shelter in Tobe city. Assessment and response were done for the person who had a contact to E mail address on a brochure of the JDF Miyagi center. Quick response by survey team was appreciated. The first visit for survey to Onagawa town has been done. Survey was implemented mainly at big shelters. We confirmed information on person with visually impairment and person with developmental disorder. Contact was taken with volunteer center of the town.

April 20th, Wednesday: We delivered goods and Materials; for Kesen-numa city, 5 wheel chairs, 5 rain-covers for wheel chair, 2 boxes of retort-packed rice and a lantern-type light, for Minami-Sanriku Town earphones of radio, Clothes for summer and boxes of tissues
April 21st, Thursday: Reports were released on Mainichi newspaper

For better reconstruction of community life of persons with disabilities, we need more people who support our work!!Your cooperation is keenly needed!!!

Translated by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Volunteer translator: Mr. Makoto Kono