ShelterBox Response Team Deployed to Japan Tsunami/Earthquake
Posted by John Borst
on Mar 16, 2011
ShelterBox Response
Team members were on the ground in Japan less than 24 hours after the
earthquake and tsunami struck. Rotarians Lasse Petersen, Mark Pearson,
John Diksa and David Eby are now working with local authorities to assess the
areas of most need. Police in Japan say that 215,000
people have fled their homes, and there are reports that whole villages
have been swept away. Tens of thousands of people in the area surrounding
the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant, where a large explosion occurred, have
also been urged to evacuate, compounding the need for emergency
shelter.
Significant loss of life and
widespread damage has occurred and emergency shelter requirements will be a
priority as overnight temperatures fall below freezing.Speaking from Tokyo, Mark Pearson said, “Our efforts will initially be focused on Japan's north where the worst affected areas are. We have aid ready to move as soon as we establish where the greatest need is". ShelterBox maintains a pre-positioned stock of boxes at key locations around the world enabling the organization to respond quickly to requests for aid for families in need.
