UNITE FOR CHILDREN

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Relief

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Relief (33rd report)
Launch of infant nutrition consultation hotline

[TOKYO, Japan, 13 April 2011]

The Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) has set up a free hotline to respond to consultations about breastfeeding and infant nutrition in order to support vulnerable mothers and infants in the disaster area. Furthermore, the committee has created a poster and pamphlet in order to spread proper information related to infant nutrition and assist in the development of friendly environments for mothers and infants in the disaster area.

Infant nutrition hotline

The infant nutrition hotline was created with the cooperation of the UNICEF Tokyo Office, Japan Liaison Council of Breastfeeding Organizations (Japan Society of Breastfeeding Research, Japan Breast Feeding Association and Japanese Association of Lactation Consultants) and the Special Committee for Supporting Mothers and Children Under the Stress (La Leche League Japan, Breastfeeding Support Network of Japan and Japanese Association of Lactation Consultants).

The free hotline is operated by Japanese representatives from the aforementioned La Leche League Japan. A separate consultation hotline has also been established by the Japan Breast Feeding Association (telephone charges apply).

The hotlines provide consultation on infant nutrition, breastfeeding, powdered milk, relaxation methods and more. Mothers, families and other related personnel in the disaster area are most welcome to make full use of these services.

“Minna de Kosodate” (Child Rearing Together) poster and pamphlet

In disasters such as the one in the Tohoku region, it is important for people living and staying around mothers to cooperate in providing friendly spaces to vulnerable mothers and children. Even if a mother wants to continue breastfeeding, stress makes it more difficult to produce milk temporarily and the problem of securing private space to breastfeed compounds difficulties. Moreover, giving infants powdered milk requires a more sanitary environment than when breastfeeding.

In order for everyone to work together in creating friendly environments for mothers and infants, the Japan Committee for UNICEF has constructed a Minna de Kosodate (Child Rearing Together) poster and Okasan to Akachan no Fureai Mother and Child Communications) book with the cooperation of the UNICEF Tokyo Office, Japan Liaison Council of Breastfeeding Organizations and the Special Committee for Supporting Mothers and Children Under the Stress of Natural Disasters.

(These materials were created based on the Declaration supporting safe and proper infant nutrition and the Policy regarding infant nutrition during times of disaster, which were released on 6 April.)

The Minna de Kosodate poster and Okasan to Akachan no Fureai book are scheduled for gradual distribution throughout the disaster area. The two can also be downloaded, printed and used directly from this website. We hope that these materials will assist in creating friendly environments for infants and mothers.

Current arrival status of relief supplies

Receiving
Prefecture
Type of Emergency
Supplies
Arrival
Date
Quantity Donating
Company
Comments
Miyagi Water 19 Mar. 12,288
bottles
VanaH Co., Ltd. Two-liter plastic bottles
Fukushima Water 22 Mar. 12,672
bottles
VanaH Co., Ltd. Two-liter plastic bottles
Miyagi Underwear for boys and girls 22 Mar. 200,000    
Iwate Underwear for boys and girls 23 Mar. 30,000    
Fukushima Water 23 Mar. 4,680
bottles
KIRIN MC DANONE WATERS Co., Ltd. Two-liter plastic bottles
Miyagi Children’s shoes 23 Mar. 10,000
pairs
   
Miyagi RChildren’s diapers 24 Mar. 80 packs P&G Japan  
Iwate Children’s underwear 24 Mar. 9,700    
Fukushima Water 24 Mar. 12,288
bottles
VanaH Co., Ltd. Two-liter plastic bottles
Iwate Shoes 26 Mar 1,404 pairs Achilles Corporation  
Iwate Underwear for boys and girls 27 Mar. 28,266  
Iwate Boots 27 Mar. 7,462 pairs  
Iwate Wipes 28 Mar. 1,200 P&G Japan For babies
Miyagi Recreation kits
Early Childhood Development kits
2 Apr. 50 of each Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division
Iwate Recreation kits
Early Childhood Development kits
2 Apr. 50 of each Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division
Miyagi Book bags 6 Apr. 70 Nihon New Bag Chain
Iwate Book bags 6 Apr. 340 Seiban
Miyagi Schoolbags 8 Apr. 18,000 Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division
Iwate Schoolbags 8 Apr. 18,000 Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division
Miyagi Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) 8 Apr. 5,000
Iwate Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) 8 Apr. 5,000

*In certain cases some supplies may be taken from prefectural supply storage warehouses and distributed to shelters and disaster sites in other prefectures.
As of 9:00 a.m. on 8 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).