Ofunato, Japan on March 15, 2011; photo by US Navy
The bad news coming out of Japan has been overwhelming: a tsunami, multiple earthquakes, a nuclear crisis and a sky-rocketing death toll. Todd Wassel, the prolific blogger behind Todd’s Wanderings, was actually visiting his wife’s family in Tokyo when the earthquake struck on March 11. When you want to help, it’s easy to feel helpless but Todd is trying to change that. An aid worker for the UN, he used to live in Japan and has used his expertise to compile this terrific list of trusted local organizations that will help Japan rebuild after this heart-wrenching devastation.
Peace Winds Japan is one of the largest Japanese organizations providing humanitarian relief such as food, clothing, fuel and medical supplies to the affected areas. You can donate here.
EN is a well known NGO dedicated to restoring a self-supporting livelihood both economically and mentally to those who have been stricken with hardship due to conflicts and disasters. They are currently supporting emergency relief items such as food, woman’s hygienic items, clothes and other essentials to the survivors of the Japan Tsunami. You can donate here.
The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA Japan) team is delivering essential medical services through mobile clinics and delivering relief goods to the nursing homes and schools (which have turned into evacuation shelters) in Aoba and Miyagino Wards. You can donate here.
OXFAM Japan is working with two partners in Japan on providing support to those on the margins of society who might otherwise have difficulty accessing emergency relief. One group is assisting mothers and babies and the other is providing information to non-Japanese speakers living in Japan. You can donate here.
Habitat For Humanity Japan is still assessing the situation but will be involved in the reconstruction of housing once the emergency period ends. This is one of the most vital aspects of recovery and the homeless will need a lot of help to put their lives back together. You can donate here.
Todd has also organized a #Blog4Japan social media initiative that will be similar to Blog4NZ — so tweet out any Japan travel stories or any positive Japan news with the Twitter hashtag #Blog4Japan.
Twitter: Quillcards
March 28, 2011 at 9:16 pm #
I have not seen this photograph before. I was in Ofunato and I have just got the email address and telephone number for the people I stayed with and the man I made friends with. I have not tried to contact them yet because I think the power lines are still down.
We corresponded for a few years and now I feel terrible for their fate.
David Bennett recently posted..Going Back To Waterloo Lake
Twitter: museumchick
March 29, 2011 at 5:13 am #
Thanks for posting this. I did a few things for Habitat for Humanity in the US years ago and I think they are a great organization.
Danee Gilmartin recently posted..My Grandma’s Favorite Painting
Thanks for supporting the #Blog4Japan initiative!
Twitter: angelacorrias
March 29, 2011 at 2:34 pm #
Thanks for posting this, Liz. Here in China people are truly shocked for Japan, teachers in university came the morning after almost in tears, the students themselves organized some collection to send over. It’s terrible how almost the whole country was hit so badly, I really hope they will manage to make things better soon for the population.
Angela recently posted..A photo- a trip – Tower Bridge- London
My prayers are with Japan and the people.
Dina recently posted..Best of France by Travelers Around the World
Another relief organization (the first one on the scene in Japan) is Operation Blessing; a worldwide
organization under the auspices of CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) 700 Club.
Another world class relief organization is Billy Graham’s “Samaritan’s Purse”
Really helpful information! Glad you posted this
Andrea recently posted..Gone Trekkin’