International Medical Corps
April 25, 2011 – International Medical Corps’ Emergency Response Team is continuing to establish local partnerships, while continuing to fill essential supply gaps and provide logistical and technical support where needed most in Japan.
International Medical Corps Partners with Japanese Organizations While Continuing Direct Support to Evacuation Centers
April 5, 2011 – Three weeks after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan, International Medical Corps’ Emergency Response Team is establishing local partnerships, while continuing to fill essential supply gaps and provide logistical and technical support where needed most.
International Medical Corps’ Emergency Response Team is continuing to establish local partnerships, while continuing to fill essential supply gaps and provide logistical and technical support where needed most in Japan.
Since arriving in the country on March 13, International Medical Corps has assessed the post-disaster needs of isolated coastal communities north of Sendai, including Ogatsu-machi, Minami-Sanriku, Kesennuma, Riken-Takata, East Matsushima, and areas north of Ishinomaki.
In these assessments, International Medical Corps has identified mental health as a critical need, as fatigue, stress, and insomnia are reported among many evacuees. Meantime, high levels of anxiety are also prevalent outside of the affected areas as a result of radiation fears.
In response, International Medical Corps has partnered with Tokyo English Life Line (TELL), to enhance their ability to provide psychosocial services to survivors. International Medical Corps will be supporting the telephone counseling services with trainings in Psychological First Aid, computer equipment, and technical support, as well as helping educate communities about available services through handouts and workshops. To date International Medical Corps has trained 26 TELL staff and seven TELL trainers in Psychological First Aid and is planning to expand these trainings. In addition, the team is also working to integrate international guidelines into TELL’s training curriculum.
International Medical Corps has also partnered with Peace Boat to support affected communities and those who chose to stay in their homes, rather than go to evacuation centers. Peace Boat, which provides hot meals, non-food items, cleaning services, and other community support activities, has a large number of volunteers and International Medical Corps will work to increase their capacity with supplies, communications equipment, technology, logistical and possibly technical support in health promotion and reconstruction.
Supplies of food and water are now generally improving in the evacuation centers, but some specific food items and medications are still needed. In response, International Medical Corps’ team is delivering packaged baby foods and medications, including nasal sprays, antihistamines and eye drops, to evacuation centers and local agencies and plans to distribute more as needed. International Medical Corps also provided computers and data cards to improve coordination among Miyagi prefecture offices, regional coordination centers, and evacuation centers.
Since arriving in Japan on March 13, International Medical Corps has assessed the post-disaster needs of isolated coastal communities north of Sendai, including Ogatsu-machi, Minami-Sanriku, Kesennuma, Riken-Takata, East Matsushima, and areas north of Ishinomaki.
In these assessments, International Medical Corps has identified mental health as a critical need, as fatigue, stress, and insomnia are reported among many evacuees. An increasing number of children are developing asthma, mumps, and pneumonia in Minami-Sanriku evacuation centers, some of which is thought to be the result of stress. Meantime, high levels of anxiety are also prevalent outside of the affected areas as a result of radiation fears.
In response, International Medical Corps has partnered with Tokyo English Life Line (TELL), to enhance their ability to provide psychosocial services to survivors. International Medical Corps will be supporting the telephone counseling services with trainings in Psychological First Aid, computer equipment, and technical support, as well as helping educate communities about available services through handouts and workshops.
International Medical Corps has also partnered with Peace Boat to support affected communities and those who chose to stay in their homes, rather than go to evacuation centers. Peace Boat, which provides hot meals, non-food items, cleaning services, and other community support activities, has a large number of volunteers and International Medical Corps will work to increase their capacity with supplies, communications equipment, technology, logistical and possibly technical support in health promotion and reconstruction.
Supplies of food and water are now generally improving in the evacuation centers, but some specific food items and medications are still needed. In response, International Medical Corps’ team is delivering packaged baby foods and medications, including nasal sprays, antihistamines and eye drops, to evacuation centers and local agencies and plans to distribute more as needed. International Medical Corps also provided computers and data cards to improve coordination among Miyagi prefecture offices, regional coordination centers, and evacuation centers.
While Japan has significant capacity to manage emergencies, the magnitude of this disaster – coupled with the threat of nuclear exposure – compelled international assistance. International Medical Corps is providing logistical support and technical expertise to local health authorities based on more than 25 years of experience in disaster response, including following the 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
The 9.0 earthquake on March 11 triggered a tsunami that buried many northern towns in a wall of water. More than 12,000 are dead and 15,500 are missing, while another 206,000 people are living in more than 2,000 evacuation centers. International Medical Corps has been a leading responder to emergencies in more than 50 countries, including the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami, 2005 Pakistan earthquake, 2010 Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods.
International Medical Corps Team in Hardest-Hit Coastal Communities Finds Severe Shortages of Food, Water, Medicines; Acure Need for Mental Health Support
March 29, 2011
International Medical Corps’ emergency response team is assessing the post-disaster needs of isolated coastal villages north of Sendai. In addition, the team is relaying information obtained from evacuation center assessments to International Medical Corps’ regional office staff in Japan to enable them to promptly assist with coordination efforts.
Fatigue and stress are being reported among many evacuees, while mental health and psychosocial support for children and adults is increasingly recognized as a major priority in the response. “We saw first-hand how extensive the material and human damage of the tsunami and earthquake was,” said team member Dr. Mutsuo Ikuhara. “Displaced people lost everything and require much emotional support. We are deeply moved by the strength and dignity of the people and their terrible suffering.”
Many are without heat in an area where temperatures have dipped below freezing and snow has been falling – putting survivors in danger of exposure. Hypothermia is a serious risk, particularly for the elderly in evacuation centers. Meantime, cases of an influenza-like illness and gastrointestinal infections have been reported at various evacuation centers. Masks and alcohol disinfectants are limited, and influenza medications have been requested at evacuation centers as a preventative measure.
International Medical Corps’ assessments include: Minami-Sanriku, Kesennuma, Riken-Takata, East Matsushima, and areas north of Ishinomaki. In the fishing and tourist town, Shizugawa, International Medical Corps found significant damage, with approximately 85 percent of the village destroyed or washed away by the tsunami. The town has a number of evacuation centers in the foothills, where some 3,500 people are taking shelter.
The team visited East Matsushima Sunday and found much improvement from their first visit two days earlier. Cell phone service is now operational in the area, while food, water, medical supplies, and medications for chronic illnesses are all more available and evacuation centers are better supplied.
Based on assessments at evacuation centers and a regional hospital where critical patients have been referred, International Medical Corps will work to fill essential gaps – including addressing the need for food, water and chronic medicines at shelters, providing psychological support, and if needed deploying four medical teams currently on standby. International Medical Corps is also looking at how to support vulnerable displaced groups, such as the elderly, single women, and children, and those who chose to stay in their homes in damaged areas, rather than going to an evacuation center.
In its assessment in Sendai, International Medical Corps found that although the coastal area had suffered large-scale damage to infrastructure, the main city is functioning relatively well, with electricity and regular services being restored. The team visited University Hospital, a 1,250-bed facility, and found it functioning very well. There are some shortages in food, water and basic supplies, with people forming long lines for available supplies. There is also a noticeable fuel shortage.
March 17, 2011
International Medical Corps – Emergency Response Team in Japan
An International Medical Corps emergency response team is on the ground in Sendai, Japan and is coordinating with local officials to support response efforts, fill critical gaps and deliver supplies. Based on assessments, the team found that although the coastal area of Sendai has suffered large-scale damage to infrastructure, the main city is functioning relatively well, with electricity and regular services being restored. The team visited University Hospital, a 1,250 bed facility, and found it functioning reasonably well. There are some noted shortages in food, water and basic supplies, with people forming long lines for available supplies. There is also a noticeable fuel shortage.
International Medical Corps’ team is planning to access coastal communities that have not yet been reached to assess post-disaster conditions, determine needs and plan a response accordingly. In addition, International Medical Corps has four medical teams on standby and is ready to airlift additional supplies as needed.
While Japan has significant capacity to manage emergencies, the magnitude of this disaster – coupled with the threat of nuclear exposure – has been large enough to warrant international assistance. International Medical Corps is providing logistical support and technical expertise to local health authorities based on our more than 25 years of experience in disaster response, including following the 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
The 9.0 earthquake triggered a tsunami that buried many northern towns in a wall of water. Japanese news media report that up to 10,000 people may have been killed, but much of the north is still inaccessible. It has been described as the largest earthquake on record for Japan. Aftershocks continue to shake the country, with a second large earthquake of 7.4-magnitude.
Thousands in the tsunami zone are without water, heat, electricity, or phone service, and some areas have been entirely cut off. On Friday, President Barack Obama said the United States was ready to help however needed.
March 14
An International Medical Corps emergency response team is on the ground in Japan and is coordinating with local officials to support response efforts and fill critical gaps. The team is assessing post disaster conditions and prepping critical supplies for delivery to the earthquake zone. They will focus their efforts on earthquake and tsunami affected communities that have not yet been reached. The team will also offer logistical support as needed to local authorities based on International Medical Corps’ experience in disaster response including following the 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
In addition, there have been explosions at nuclear power plants in northern Japan, compounding the crisis. While the level of radiation leaked is unknown, Japanese authorities have ordered large-scale evacuations surrounding the reactor zones.
March 12
After Major Earthquake and Tsunami, International Medical Corps Deploys Emergency Response Team to Japan
International Medical Corps has deployed an emergency response team to Japan, following an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s coast, triggering a tsunami that devastated northern parts of the country and put a tsunami warning in effect for much of the Pacific.
“We are putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities,” said Nancy Aossey, President & CEO, International Medical Corps. “While Japan has a large capacity to manage a disaster of this scale, we will respond as needed.”
Thousands in the tsunami zone are without water, heat, electricity, or phone service, and some areas have been entirely cut off.
International Medical Corps has been a leading responder to emergencies in more than 50 countries, including the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami, 2005 Pakistan earthquake, 2010 Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods.
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