[RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan, 29 April 2011]
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
“A lot has already been cleaned up, but I was truly shocked on my first visit,” said Agnes Chan, Ambassador of Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU). Ms. Chan visited the disaster area once before between 12-15 April to the coastal region of Miyagi Prefecture. This visit, her second, is to the coast of Iwate Prefecture.
Just as we passed the highway marker indicating that it was six more kilometers to Rikuzentakata City, the first area we were to visit, we began to see piles of rubble in Kesen River, which flowed alongside the road. Then, from next to me, Mr. Suzuki, who has been the driver for JCU emergency activities in Iwate Prefecture, quietly whispered to me.
The first place Ms. Chan visited on her trip was Daiichi Junior High School, where even now, over a month and a half after the disaster, more than 600 people are still living as disaster victims. That was the first thing that someone said to Agnes Chan at the entrance of the school. Agnes Chan was called on by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jackie Chan to participate in a charity concert with other Hong Kong and Japanese stars directly after the disaster. It was there that she sang Ame ni mo Makezu, a song written by Kenji Miyazawa, a native of Iwate Prefecture. After returning home from the charity concert in Hong Kong, Ms. Chan quickly worked to record the song on CD. It is being delivered to disaster victims in various different forms.
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
| The driver, Mr. Suzuki, driving on the way to Rikuzentakata City. |
“All of the landmarks have disappeared, so I have no idea where anything is,” said Mr. Suzuki, who spent is primary and junior high school years living in Rikuzentakata. Ms. Chan, who visited the city on business for a conference several years ago, also said that everything had been destroyed in the city and it looked totally different.
“I never would have thought that I’d return one day to see the city like this.” At a shelter a Daiichi Junior High School, one woman that came to hear Ms. Chan speak at that conference broke down into tears after hearing this.
“I can’t believe that there are still this many people forced to live in the shelter even though more than five weeks have passed the disaster. Everyone, I know that you are really struggling. But even amidst this situation, I saw a child smile. After seeing that smile I knew that I had to work hard, too. It may still be a long road to recovery, but I am absolutely sure that we can rebuild this city,” said Ms. Chan.
JCU Ambassador Chan will visit Ofunato City on 30 April.
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF | © Japan Committee for UNICEF | |
| The location of a town hall where Ms. Chan gave a lecture several years ago. | Ms. Chan being welcomed at a shelter set up in Daiichi Junior High School. |
| 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 | Children’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 | |
| Miyagi | Book bags | 6 Apr. | 70 | Nihon New Bag Chain | |
| Iwate | Book bags | 6-7 Apr. | 340 | Seiban | |
| Miyagi | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Iwate | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Miyagi | Minicar | 8 Apr. | 3 cars | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 11 Apr. | 1,536 bottles | VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Replenishments for recreation kits | 12 Apr. | 60 sets | ||
| Miyagi | Miniature toy cars | 12 Apr. | Approx. 1,200 | TAKARA TOMY | |
| Sagamihara* | Water | 12 Apr. | 12,288 bottles | VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Play mats | 13 Apr. | Two types; 80 of each type | IKEA | |
| Miyagi | Drawing sets | 13 Apr. | 60 sets | IKEA | |
| Iwate | Preschool-size chairs, tables and low tables | 14 Apr. | 75 chairs; 11 tables; 9 low tables | Donated to preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools in the disaster area as well as their new locations | |
| Miyagi | Mopeds | 15 Apr. | 5 | ||
| Iwate | Notebooks and stationery sets for primary and junior high school students | 15. Apr. | 16,700 sets | ||
| Miyagi | 183 computers; 57 copiers and fax machines; 61 printers | 18-21 Apr. | Distributed to preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools in the disaster area as well as their new locations | ||
| Fukushima | Movable blackboards | 21 Apr. | 10 | ||
| Fukushima | Temporary toilets | 21 Apr. | 20 |
Number of UNICEF Children’s Mini Libraries distributed: Approximately 250 (as of 28 April 2011)
*Areas receiving disaster victims.
*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 28 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).