Emergency assistance and rebuilding in disaster-affected areas of Japan

How WJR’s support made a difference

WJR supported local partners in Japan with projects targeting some of those most affected by the disaster including the establishment of three Child Friendly Spaces with Save the Children for up to 1,000 displaced children. Located either in temporary structures or in existing buildings, these areas helped children recover from the trauma they experienced, by providing a safe place to play and socialise with peers their own age. The children received psychosocial support to help them to cope with their situation and parents were left with much needed time to dedicate to finding sources of food, work and accommodation in the knowledge that their children are being well looked after.

The spaces helped identify vulnerable children required special care. Staff at the Child Friendly Spaces also offered training in positive hygiene and disaster risk reduction, helping children to stay healthy despite destroyed water, sanitation and health infrastructure.  

Watch Save the Children's film about the Child Friendly Spaces

During the early aftermath of the disaster, WJR supported Chabad of Japan to purchase and distribute hot food (sweet potato) and soap in Iwanuma, Watari, Yamamoto and Minami Soma. WJR also supported 7644 individuals through local partner AAR Japan, including 4666 people benefitting from the distribution of food and non-food items. Efforts were originally focused on distributing drinking water and basic food items to individual homes, shelter homes, temporary housing complexes and evacuation centres but were adapted to include electronics, home appliances, cleaning tools and furniture as the needs of those affected evolved from everyday survival to rebuilding their lives.

Centres serving people with disabilities and the elderly were also reequipped with basic equipment such as vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, heaters, dehumidifiers and other household equipment, and health-related items such as blood pressure monitors and scales. These items allowed staff to return to a safe working environment, enabling a quick and full resumption of services.

Soup kitchen services located close to evacuation centres provided nutritious meals to 2791 people in disaster-stricken areas of Tohuku. By serving as a safe place where those affected could meet, the soup kitchens also played a vital role in bringing people together for community rebuilding activities.

WJR also funded the reinstallation of water, hygiene and sanitation facilities damaged by the earthquake and tsunami at vocational training facilities for 77 people with disabilities in Marumori and Shibata, Miyagi. These repairs allowed for the facilities to return to full capacity within a short period and increased their productivity, leading to increased salaries for the disabled workers, improving their livelihoods and strengthening their overall financial and social independence.

Repairs were additionally made to a minibus transporting 36 people with disabilities to a vocational training workshop in Shichigama Town after its electronically automated step began to malfunction due to flooding damage.

Further WJR funding supported the construction of a pre-fabricated building, the re-instalment of electricity and purchase of toys and educational materials enabling Care Home Megumi, a welfare facility for adults and children living with disabilities to return to its full schedule of activities.