Global Relief (GRf) is in contact with church groups in Japan who are working on the ground and know best what the changing priorities are. Your donation towards the GRf emergency fund will enable us to support these groups as they are addressing the most urgent needs of survivors. Click here to donate.

Lawrence Spalink from the Reformed Church in Japan writes:
I have heard wonderful reports of Christian churches banding together to help each other and their neighbors, and I am very thankful to be part of an evolving network of fine agencies working on site for relief. These efforts will go on for a long time, and even though the world's media move on, I urge that you not forget us and your brothers and sisters in this nation.

Picture source: www.sky.com

Here are the latest facts from the UN OCHA situation report no 12, dated 23 March:

• More aftershocks and freezing temperatures continue in affected areas,
• Half a million people now without electricity,
• 2.1 million people are without water,
• Radiation contamination found in tap water at levels not safe for infants,
• Government bans the sale of 11 vegetables after radiation contamination found near Nuclear Power Plant.

Download the full report from reliefweb here.

This situation has left a proud nation of innovators and technological leaders severely traumatised.  

This disaster has been described as the worst to have hit Japan since World War II. Our 11 years’ experience of international disaster work has shown that if survivors are not supported to deal with their trauma, it could have devastating effects on the spirit of the nation, inhibiting their ability to rebuild their lives. It typically leads to problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse and domestic violence.  

If our friends in Japan request us to send a team to help survivors deal with their trauma and train others to continue the process, we need to be ready. Such a project costs about R300 000 because of travel arrangements, accommodation, food, training material, emergency supplies and back-up support for both South African facilitators and Japanese participants. Click here to donate.

Please help us get our Emergency Fund up to R500 000 so we can respond swiftly to emergencies. Watch the 3 minute video below (Afrikaans narration) to see how we responded to the Indonesian tsunami in 2004 / 2005.

When disaster strikes, time is of the essence. The sooner an emergency team arrives on the scene, the better we can assist those affected.  

Read some of our previous stories here:

Good Hope Centre Training - Supporting the victims of xenophobic violence

Slagoffers kry kos, komberse en huisvesting - Ondersteuning aan slagoffers van xenofobiese geweld

South African relief workers among first to reach areas of Meulaboh, Indonesia

Stories of the children in Indonesia

Training Indonesian teachers to help children

Thanks To And From Indonesia - Indonesian Ambassador thanks GRf for Tsunami support