News Updates

Humanity First Medical March 2011 Update. The Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Humanity First International (Japan) serving in Sendai, March 2011

Post earthquake and Tsunami

March 2011
(Vol 2, Issue 3)

Welcome to the Humanity First Medical update. With these updates, we aim to keep you informed about Humanity First medical activities and talk about the latest in news and controversies, in relation to our line of work with these updates. Please visit our website Humanity First Medical for more about our activities, wish to contribute or need to contact the Humanity First Medical team.

Humanity First team demonstrate their culinary skills

The aftermath

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Local emergency services in action Sendai, Japan 2011

Driving on the local roads

Humanity First team in Sendai

Humanity First International (Japan) in Sendai, March 2011

An earthquake of magnitude 8.9 struck north east coast of Japan at 14:46 local time on Friday 11th of March 2011. This triggered a huge tsunami which was more than 20 metres high and affected areas inside the east coast of Japan. There are already warnings about another tsunami which could be triggered by the aftershocks. The city of Sendai with a population of million was worst hit, with hundreds of bodies lying in the streets. Transport, telecommunications and utilities have been disrupted. At least 8,133 people are confirmed dead, and 12,272 missing. With a higher number reported by the police and possibly a large number of people still unaccounted, it is claimed that the death toll has been greater and the actual count is above 20,000. The dam in Fukishima has burst taking many homes with it. As many as 400,000 people are now living in basic temporary shelters in the cold with very little food. This disaster has been an unfortunate combination of natural and man made disaster. As a result of the tsunami the nuclear reactors in the area are damaged with radiation leak which is continuing to be a major worry. These worries have now almost overshadowed the tragedy suffered during the earthquake and tsunami. Humanity First team has been providing active assistance with their three teams in Sendai since the earthquake and tsunami. On request of the Japanese authorities the teams have been using trucks provided by the Japanese authorities to deliver edible food and gas cylinders from our base in Nagoya where they have been working round the clock for donations and supplies. The teams have been serving the local population during the past few days. The Japanese have shown an amazing spirit of sacrifice, despite paucity of food and water. Amongst many incidences, on one occasion where a Humanity First team member visited the shop to purchase meat, the shop owner donated a further 50 kg without any charge. The locals have been most appreciative of all hands on help. The Japanese remain most dignified during this time and the ground team have not reported any increase in crime, theft/ robbery which is not unusual with such a disaster. The Japanese authorities continue in their efforts to control the nuclear reactors instability,

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meanwhile some amazing stories are being told about the workers working round the clock at the Fukishama plant. The Humanity First team is now reluctantly leaving Sendai as guided by the Humanity First Medical (& Logistics) teams, who are following national and local safety recommendations. The members of the Japan team are based in the country and will continue to actively support the relief with donations and other means.

All photographs in this newsletter have been provided by Humanity First International (Japan)

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