SOURCE: SEEDS Asia - SitRep dated 3/23/11
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/JARR-8F8DUJ/$File/full_report.pdf
"Plan Japan: providing psychological care for children at teachers training event, toys and books in Tagajo, Miyagi."
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FROM RELIEF WEB:
Plan reaching out to Japan's children
Source: Plan
Date: 23 Mar 2011
Children need emotional first-aid
Plan's aid response in Japan is to target the many struggling children and families living in evacuation and relief centers.
Following visits to the epicenter of devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck the Sendai region, Plan will distribute 1,000 'family kits' to many left homeless as part of its initial three-month aid program.
A kit contains basic items such soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, a towel, underwear, diapers, sanitary napkins, a flashlight etc. Efforts will also be directed towards school-centered activities to provide psychosocial care for children.
Plan does not normally operate programs in Japan but has launched a targeted response to the huge needs following the multiple disasters in the region.
Ground situation grim
The response follows assessment visits to the worst-affected cities of Tagajo and Ishinomaki, both east of Sendai.
The Plan team encountered harrowing scenes and accounts while visiting the education board of Tagajo city and an evacuation center. Plan's Disaster Response Policy Coordinator Unni Krishnan conducted an orientation session for teachers on dealing with emotional first aid of students and shared Plan's experience in disasters like the Haiti earthquake.
Children worst hit
Unni said: "This disaster has affected everyone. However, children are the worst hit. While life-saving needs like medical assistance, food and water are important, it is equally important to provide emotional first aid and psychosocial support for the most vulnerable, such as children."
Plan Japan staff member Tomomi Ikehara, part of the team in Sendai said: "I think most children will want to get back to school if possible but some children may be frightened to know that they will never see some friends again."
The first phase will also involve setting up of a field operations hub to better coordinate Plan's aid response. Plan will also closely network with other organisations delivering humanitarian assistance.
Thousands still homeless
As the relief work is gaining momentum, extreme cold and weather conditions are amplifying the crisis. More than 300,000 people are still homeless and living in evacuation centers. "Repeated aftershocks and uncertainty over Fukushima nuclear reactors are adding to people's stress, especially children," said Unni.
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FROM RELIEF WEB:
Plan launches Japan child aid
Source: Plan
Date: 18 Mar 2011
18 March 2011: Plan has launched a targeted response to help victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
The aid will focus on providing child care and protection programmes through Japanese partner non-governmental organisations and local authorities in the Sendai region of north-east Japan.
Children vulnerable
Plan's immediate concern is the welfare of tens of thousands of vulnerable children who have been forced to flee their homes with their families as nearly half a million people are currently living in temporary shelters.
Many schools in the northern districts are currently serving as temporary shelters, including 5 pre-schools and more than 80 primary schools. Extreme cold weather, in some places snow, is hampering relief operations and worsening the plight of the survivors, especially children.
Vital aid
Plan's immediate aid will focus on providing warm clothing, heating equipment, water and sanitation, food, health care, supporting community kitchens, and providing child-friendly spaces for children.
The first stage of the response is expected to last 3 months with a 15-month recovery programme focusing on 'emotional first-aid' for children, community disaster risk-reduction, educational support and getting children back to safe schools.
Plan has a small local and international team assessing needs on the ground. Plan in Japan has launched an in-country appeal and to date, some US$140,000 has been raised from existing supporters.
Suffering at a peak
"Japan is a wealthy, developed nation which has mounted a massive rescue and relief operation, but children's suffering at the peak of a crisis is universal and a challenge," said Plan's Disaster Co-ordinator Dr Unni Krishnan.
Director of Plan in Japan Gabriel Kazuo Tsurumi said: "A country's GDP and levels of poverty obviously affect its ability to recover long-term but right now, there are multiple disasters, the need is still enormous and there are gaps where specific help is needed and where Plan can supplement the state aid effort."
Plan's previous work in Japan has consisted of advocacy and fundraising activities but the organisation has a track-record of responding to major humanitarian crises worldwide including the 2004 tsunami, Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods.