Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Margaret Aguirre
Director, Global Communications
310.826.7800
maguirre@InternationalMedicalCorps.org
International Medical Corps Team in Hardest‐Hit Coastal Communities Finds
Severe Shortages of Food, Water, Medicines; Acute Need for Mental Health
Support
March 21, 2011, Los Angeles, Calif. ‐ International Medical Corps’ emergency response team is
assessing the post‐disaster needs of isolated coastal villages north of Sendai that have yet to
receive humanitarian assistance. They found shortages of food, water and some medicines, and
survivors in need of mental health support.
Many are without heat in an area where temperatures have dipped below freezing and snow
has been falling – putting survivors in danger of exposure. Meantime, disrupted supply chains
and fuel shortages have caused most convenience stores to close. Food and water is
increasingly available at rescue sites, but evacuees are concerned about bathing, as there is no
running water, and diapers are needed.
International Medical Corps’ team is assessing the needs of towns north of Sendai.
Approximately 85‐percent of one of the villages, Minami Sanriku, was washed away or
destroyed by the tsunami. The town has a number of evacuation centers in the foothills, where
some 3,500 people are taking shelter.
“We saw first‐hand how extensive the material and human damage of the tsunami and
earthquake was,” said team member Dr. Mutsuo Ikuhara. “Displaced people lost everything
and require much emotional support. We are deeply moved by the strength and dignity of the
people and their terrible suffering.”
The team visited East Matsushima Sunday and found much improvement from their first visit
on Friday, March 19. Cell phone service is now operative in the area, while food, water, medical
supplies, and medications for chronic illnesses are all more available and evacuation centers are
better supplied.
Based on its assessments at evacuation centers and a regional hospital where critical patients
have been referred, International Medical Corps will work to fill essential gaps ‐ including
addressing the need for food, water and chronic medicines at shelters, providing psychological
support, and if needed deploying four medical teams currently on standby. International
Medical Corps is also looking at how to support vulnerable displaced groups, such as the
elderly, single women, and children, and those who chose to stay in their homes in damaged
areas, rather than going to an evacuation center.
In its assessment in Sendai, International Medical Corps found that although the coastal area
had suffered large‐scale damage to infrastructure, the main city is functioning relatively well,
with electricity and regular services being restored. The team visited University Hospital, a
1,250‐bed facility, and found it functioning very well. There are some shortages in food, water
and basic supplies, with people forming long lines for available supplies. There is also a
noticeable fuel shortage.
While Japan has significant capacity to manage emergencies, the magnitude of this disaster –
coupled with the threat of nuclear exposure – has been large enough to warrant international
assistance. International Medical Corps is providing logistical support and technical expertise to
local health authorities based on its more than 25 years of experience in disaster response,
including following the 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
The 9.0 earthquake on March 11 triggered a tsunami that buried many northern towns in a wall
of water. Japanese news media report that up to 10,000 people may have been killed, but
much of the north is still inaccessible. It has been described as the largest earthquake on record
for Japan. Hundreds of aftershocks continue to shake the country, with a second large
earthquake of 7.4‐magnitude.
In addition, there have been explosions at nuclear power plants in northern Japan,
compounding the crisis. While the level of radiation leaked is unknown, Japanese authorities
have ordered large‐scale evacuations surrounding the reactor zones.
International Medical Corps has been a leading responder to emergencies in more than 50
countries, including the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami, 2005 Pakistan earthquake, 2010 Haiti
earthquake and Pakistan floods.
Since its inception nearly 25 years ago, International Medical Corps’ mission has been
consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by
delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help
themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self‐reliance. For more
information visit our website at www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org. Also see us on Facebook
and follow us on Twitter.