[Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, 15 April 2011]
Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) ambassador Agnes Chan has been visiting the disaster area on the coast of Miyagi Prefecture—an area that suffered significant damage as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake—since 12 April. Today, on her last day in the region, Ms. Chan held a press conference at the prefectural office building.
 |
 |
|
| © Japan Committee for UNICEF/2011/k.shindo | © Japan Committee for UNICEF /2011/k.shindo |
 |
| © Japan Committee for UNICEF /2011/k.shindo |
| Sakurada settlement in Yamamoto Town |
“I was at a loss for words at the scale of damage left by the earthquake and tsunami,” said Ms. Chan at the start of the press conference. The disaster area has been thoroughly covered on television, in newspapers and other media. Nevertheless, today, even one month after the earthquake, there is still an unimaginable amount of damage.
Ms. Chan observed assistance activities such as the Child Friendly Spaces, which have been implemented by JCU since directly after the earthquake. She visited shelters in various areas, delivering picture books and children’s books donated under the UNICEF Children’s Mini Library project from all over Japan. The shelters still have yet to see power and water supplies restored, and even though we arrived without making prior contact, disaster victims warmly welcomed Ms. Chan, telling her that she had given them hope and energy despite still being forced to bear the hard living conditions of shelters. People approached Ms. Chan with disposable plates, t-shirts distributed as relief supplies, pieces of cardboard and other objects on which she wrote messages of support and encouragement for each and every person; she finally left them with a song.
The rubble continues to be removed from the disaster area and even on the coastline, where damage was most severe, some shops and restaurants have begun to reopen. Moreover, in Minamisanriku Town a new telephone pole has been constructed among the wreckage and power is expected to return as early as today. Nevertheless, the Great East Japan Earthquake has extensively damaged coastal municipalities and famous sightseeing spots. At the same time it has deeply scarred the people, and especially the children.
Since the earthquake JCU has provided assistance through relief supplies, including drinking water, children’s underwear and sanitary goods, while also preparing for the reopening of schools and extending assistance to pregnant women and women and infants that are breastfeeding. JCU has also gradually implemented activities to ensure the protection of children placed in vulnerable situations, by offering, for example, psychological assistance. We are currently drafting a mid-term assistance plan in consideration of the children in disaster areas starting a new school term.
“Improving the sanitary conditions at shelters and the nutritional level of food for those living at shelters and at home are urgent issues,” said Ms. Chan. “The children are beginning to return to school. Efforts are likely going to be needed to make such places sanitary. On my visit I made a firm decision to work along with everyone even harder in the future.”
 |
| © Japan Committee for UNICEF /2011/k.shindo |
| A shelter in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture. |
Dr. Kunii traveled from the UNICEF Somalia Office to Miyagi Prefecture and has been assisting activities since 19 March. He says that during the first couple weeks he neither saw the children smile or cry. “But after Ms. Chan came, all of their faces lit up with smiles. And some even cried. Ms. Chan really came at the right time,” says Dr. Kunii.
After the press conference, Ms. Chan made her way towards her last place of visit—Yamamoto Town. She plans to visit the disaster area in Iwate Prefecture from 28 April to 2 May.
| Date | Municipality | Place Visited |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Apr. | Ishinomaki City | Shelter at Kama Primary School, Ishinomaki Port Shelter at Minato Junior High School, Ishinomaki Port |
| 13 Apr. | Oshika Peninsula, Onagawa Town, Ishinomaki City | Momoura settlement Tsukiura settlement Ogihama Kindergarten Shelter at Higashihama Primary School in Ayukawa Koamikura Evacuation area near Onagawa Power Plant, Samenoura Bay (from Ohara to Yagawahama) Shelter at Ishinomaki City Kazumae Primary School in Samenoura Bay (from Ohara to Yagawahama) |
| 14 Apr. | Minamisanriku Town | Shelter at Bayside Arena Multipurpose Gymnasium Shelter at Shizugawa Primary School Shelter at Kotazu Primary School |
| Kesennuma City | Shelter at K-Wave Multipurpose Gymnasium | |
| 15 Apr. | Yamamoto Town | Shelter at Yamamoto Town Hall / Chuo Community Center Shelter at Yamashita Daini Primary School |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | Chairs (for 3-5 year olds) | 14 Apr. | 75 | ||
| Iwate | Tables (for 6 people) | 14 Apr. | 11 | ||
| Iwate | Low tables | 14 Apr. | 9 |
*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 15 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).