[TOKYO, Japan, 4 April 2011]
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
| Children receiving picture books, kami shibai and other items at a shelter set up at Aoba Junior High School in Ishinomaki City on 4 April. |
Today, the first shipment of picture books, children’s books and other items donated for the UNICEF Children’s Mini Library project arrived at the shelter in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, and were subsequently delivered to children throughout the disaster area. Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) staff members Yukiko Asami and Erena Yamagishi, who are on-site in Miyagi Prefecture, are working with partner organizations and volunteers to prepare for the establishment of Child Friendly Spaces. Ms. Asami shared with us her experience:
“Today, we delivered picture books and kami shibai (Japanese picture card stories) to children at four different shelters. There are many children that lost their favorite books and toys due to the earthquake, and they looked so happy when they saw the books and kami shibai we brought. Some children took the books back to their own living space in the shelter to read them, and others said that they wanted their parents to read the books to them at night. I intend to do everything I can to ensure that smiles return to the faces of these children so that they can return to their normal lives at the earliest stage possible.”
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
| Books delivered to Mangokuura Junior High School in Ishinomaki City. |
JCU staff member Ms. Yamagishi helped deliver the first shipment of books for the UNICEF Children’s Mini Library to Child Friendly Spaces set up at Mangokuura Junior High School, Minato Primary School and Kama Primary School in Ishinomaki City. She told us how the children looked when she opened the cardboard boxes full of books:
“The children were thrilled when I opened the box of books, and they immediately started reading the books on the spot. Even the mothers seemed very happy to receive new books, and they smiled as they picked up the books to see what had come.” The UNICEF Children’s Mini Library project was started as a way to promote the establishment of Child Friendly Spaces at shelters throughout the disaster area. Families of children that have taken part in the Child Friendly Space project have voiced their satisfaction with the project, saying, “My children feel at peace again and are finally able to sleep well” and “Right after the earthquake my child was using only dark colored paper for origami, but now she is starting to use bright colors once again.” Picture books, kami shibai and children’s books are arriving at a pace much faster than initially anticipated. Also, the UNICEF House has received the assistance of a large number of volunteers. In order to ensure that everyone’s efforts reach children in the disaster area at the earliest stage possible, UNICEF and partner organizations are working together to implement these assistance activities while at the same time continuing to provide the necessary relief supplies and assisting in the reopening of schools.
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF | © Japan Committee for UNICEF | |
| People delivering kami shibai and other books to the UNICEF House. | Picture books and children’s books ready for shipment from the UNICEF House. |
Under the UNICEF Children’s Mini Library project, JCU is currently accepting requests for books from kindergartens, preschools, primary schools and other organizations in the disaster area. Please click here for more information.
| Receiving Prefecture |
Type of Emergency Supplies |
Arrival Date |
Quantity | Donating Company |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miyagi | Water | 19 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Fukushima | Water | 22 Mar. | 12,672 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Underwear for boys and girls | 22 Mar. | 200,000 | ||
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 23 Mar. | 30,000 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 23 Mar. | 4,680 bottles |
KIRIN MC DANONE WATERS Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Children’s shoes | 23 Mar. | 10,000 pairs |
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| Miyagi | RChildren’s diapers | 24 Mar. | 80 packs | P&G Japan | |
| Iwate | Children’s underwear | 24 Mar. | 9,700 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 24 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Iwate | Shoes | 26 Mar | 1,404 pairs | Achilles Corporation | |
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 27 Mar. | 28,266 | ||
| Iwate | Boots | 27 Mar. | 7,462 pairs | ||
| Iwate | Wipes | 28 Mar. | 1,200 | P&G Japan | For babies |
| Miyagi | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division |
*In certain cases some supplies may be taken from prefectural supply storage warehouses and distributed to shelters and disaster sites in other prefectures.
As of 9:00 a.m. on 4 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).