Japan: Plan provides aid to families in evacuation centres

Family kits are delivered to a secondary school in Ishinomaki that is currently being used as a relief centre.

Plan International's aid response in Japan continues, with the distribution of 'family kits' at relief centres in the worst affected cities of Ishinomaki and Tagajo in Miyagi prefecture on Sunday.

Each kit contains items such as soap, towels, toothbrushes, crayons and underwear to meet the basic needs of families living in evacuation centres.

Plan staff also distributed blankets and toys for children at four secondary schools that are being used as shelters for 2450 people. Survivors of the tsunami and neighbours formed volunteer groups to help distribute the aid.

Reactions from families showed that the basic necessities in the kits would make a huge difference.

"Can I have one more notebook?" asked a primary school girl looking after her little sister.

"We were all waiting for new underwear," said a middle-aged woman. "We can't wash our clothes as we can only use water for drinking."

"This is an unprecedented disaster that has affected everyone,” said Plan's Disaster Response Policy Coordinator Dr Unni Krishnan. “Even though children remain at the centre of Plan's response, our aid activities are intended for the whole family.

"When parents have their mind at rest, they can look after their children in a better way," he added.

The needs of people living in shelters have been changing constantly. The most appreciated item in the 'family kit' was underwear. "We have been unable to take a bath for days, wash underwear or even change clothes," a woman at a relief centre told Plan staff. “It might not cause immediate harm to our health but it is very stressful."

When asked what she would like to do to make her children feel better, a mother-of-two replied: "I would like to let them take a bath because we only took it once in two weeks."

Plan started its first phase of aid response after a field visit to Ishinomaki and Tagajo led by Dr Krishnan where they encountered harrowing scenes and accounts of destruction. The team identified areas where Plan's experience and expertise in caring for children in the aftermath of disasters was needed – including 'emotional first aid' for children and education activities.

In addition to the distribution of emergency materials, Plan will be providing educational support to children who cannot access school or receive child care services. "We have also identified psychosocial care for children as one of the main areas of our response," said Sato Ikuro, Plan's Program Manager in Japan.

A Plan team will next week run an orientation session on psychosocial support for children for about 300 primary and junior high school teachers in Tagajo.

Australians can make donations to our Japan Appeal online or by calling 13 75 26.

For media enquiries, please contact:

David Cook
Media Officer
Mobile: 0448 816 900
Email: david.cook@plan.org.au