UNITE FOR CHILDREN

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Relief

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Relief (55th report)
Flushable toilets installed at Minamisoma City primary schools

[TOKYO, Japan, 13 May 2011]

© Japan Committee for UNICEF /2011/K.Goto
Temporary toilet provided by the Japan Committee for UNICEF.

Due to the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Minamisoma City in Fukushima Prefecture has been designated as an evacuation zone (inside the 20-kilometer no-entry zone) while people outside of the 20-kilometer evacuation zone are being asked to remain indoors (those living between 20 to 30 kilometers from the nuclear power station). As a result countless children living in the city have been put into a tremendously difficult situation. Due to the disaster and nuclear power station accident, the 22 primary schools of Minamisoma City have been combined to form a total of four primary schools. The Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) has provided 20 temporary toilets to these primary schools, which had suffered from a severe lack of toilets due to the sudden influx of students.

On 12 May, six toilets were installed at Yasawa Primary School, one of the four consolidated primary schools in Minamisoma City. Before the earthquake this school had between 120 and 130 students, but now, as it accommodates for students from five primary schools in the area, the student population has risen nearly three-fold to 305 children. The school was originally built to support a capacity of around 100 children, so the number of toilets at the school could not provide for large influx.

All of the toilets installed are working flushable toilets. The previous temporary toilets were non-flushing toilets, and some of the children had complained about the foul smell. After the installation of the new toilets, however, children told us that, “I am so happy we got new toilets!” and “I used to hold off going to the bathroom because I didn’t want to use the older toilets, but I have no problem with the new flushing toilets.” One child added, “It would be even better if they were mechanical toilets.”

© Japan Committee for UNICEF /2011/K.Goto

The school’s principal, Satoshi Kanada, expressed his gratitude to JCU, commenting, “The school building’s toilets were packed with people and there was no free space. I am very grateful that JCU has supplied us with enough toilets to accommodate for our large number of students—three toilets for boys and three for girls.” He continued, “If we are unable to hold athletic and other events in the school field, we will have to use the gymnasium. These toilets were installed between the gymnasium and school building, so they are very easy to access.”

Commissioned by JCU, Kenji Goto has been covering the situation on-site in the Tohoku region. Mr. Goto said, “I was relieved to see that the children seem happy. But there are still places where roads remain cracked due to the earthquake, so it is impossible to drive after dark. You don’t see anyone outside after it gets dark, and that goes for parks, preschools and primary schools. The living environment has completely changed and the children living here are under a significant amount of stress. Minamisoma City is still in need of a great amount of assistance even compared to other areas that suffered from the disaster.”

Provision of moveable blackboards

In addition to the toilets, Yasawa Primary School also uses moveable blackboards and lockers provided by JCU. Principal Kanada told us that the moveable blackboards were particularly appreciated as classes are being held in the hallways and multi-purpose halls.

This month JCU plans to start the “Let’s Play! The Outdoors Playtime Project”, part of the UNICEF Children’s Bus Fieldtrips initiative, for children in Fukushima Prefecture that are unable to play outside. Under this project, children from preschools and kindergartens in Fukushima City are invited to locations where they can enjoy playing safely. See here for more information.

The Great East Japan Earthquake caused extensive damage in the Tohoku and other regions. Even today a vast number of children still live amidst stern circumstances. JCU will continue to implement assistance in accordance with the needs of the disaster area.

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 Children’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 6-7 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
Miyagi Minicar 8 Apr. 3 cars
Fukushima Water 11 Apr. 1,536 bottles VanaH Co., Ltd. Two-liter plastic bottles
Miyagi Replenishments for recreation kits 12 Apr. 60 sets
Miyagi Miniature toy cars 12 Apr. Approx. 1,200 TAKARA TOMY
Sagamihara* Water 12 Apr. 12,288 bottles VanaH Co., Ltd. Two-liter plastic bottles
Miyagi Play mats 13 Apr. Two types; 80 of each type IKEA
Miyagi Drawing sets 13 Apr. 60 sets IKEA
Iwate Preschool-size chairs, tables and low tables 14 Apr. 75 chairs; 11 tables; 9 low tables Donated to preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools in the disaster area as well as their new locations
Miyagi Mopeds 15 Apr. 5
Iwate Notebooks and stationery sets for primary and junior high school students 15. Apr. 16,700 sets
Miyagi 183 computers; 57 copiers and fax machines; 61 printers 18-21 Apr. Distributed to preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools in the disaster area as well as their new locations
Fukushima Movable blackboards 21 Apr. 10
Fukushima Temporary toilets 21 Apr. 20

Number of UNICEF Children’s Mini Libraries distributed: Approximately 250 (as of 28 April 2011)

*Areas receiving disaster victims.

*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 28 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).