In the deadly earthquake and tsunami that shattered northeastern Japan, an estimated 20,000 perished in the devastation. Entire communities were wiped out, and hundreds of thousands of people were displaced. The two catastrophic events then produced a third: a nuclear disaster at the badly damaged Fukushima facility, leaving an entire area essentially uninhabitable. Within hours of the disaster, Americares mobilized a large-scale emergency response, with shipments of medical and humanitarian aid that helped countless survivors in need.
Our team remained in the disaster zone for four years, helping survivors regain their health and rebuild their lives. Partnering with local organizations, we provided:
Restoring community through gardening
Helping survivors recover with seeds and soil.
Today, Japan continues to rebuild the region. For four years our Japan team worked from Sendai, filling crucial healthcare gaps. In collaboration with local communities and organizations, we supported 187 projects including:
Concluding our recovery work, we have left in place a network of ongoing community-based organizations and programs that will support these important services going forward. The organization “Baby Smile”, for example, began as a small community-directed initiative that grew into a nationally recognized nonprofit organization providing child care support services
“In the four years after the triple disaster, Americares invested in 187 targeted projects, collaboratively building a healthier future for these devastated communities.”
Byline… RAMONA BAJEMA, AMERICARES JAPAN COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE