Photograph: Devastation in Sendai. Image courtesy of ShelterBox.
Rotary rapid-response boxes are on their way to Japan, following the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake which hapenned in the early hours of Friday morning. The coastal city of Sendai has been hit hard with reports of high losses of life.
Rotary clubs across Great Britain & Ireland are gearing up for collections to help support the rapid-response box projects.
An initial ShelterBox Response Team made up of ShelterBox Field Operations Specialist, Mark Pearson, and ShelterBox International Director, Rotarian Lasse Petersen, are en-route to Japan to assess the situation.
At present, the scale of the disaster is difficult to measure. The combination of such a large earthquake followed by the tsunami has the potential to cause significant damage across the Pacific Rim. Lasse Petersen, ShelterBox International Director, said: "Whole homes are being washed away and our thoughts go out to all the families who are facing this disaster. The epicentre was in Japan so our first team are mobilising to head there but we continue to watch, very closely, the path of the tsunami. We’re very aware the worst may not be over."
Water Survival Box (WSB) is in contact with district governors in the Miyaki and Fukushima prefectures, offering to send WSBs by air. Chairman of WSB, Hugo Pike, says the earthquake and tsunami have caused widespread damage: "A great deal of territory is under water in both areas. Families will have been left homeless, without household possessions and without access to clean water, the circumstances for which the Water-Survival Box has been developed. The tsunami may cause major problems in less developed countries around the Pacific Rim and we will be monitoring the situation ready to offer help where needed."
If you would like to make a donation, please contact the organisations directly or your local Rotary club.
