SCI Japan Disaster Relief Project

20 May 2011

SCI Japan Disaster Relief Workcamp- Fukushima

 

'Official advice to volunteers was to be as self-sufficient as possible so on 30th April we headed north from Tokyo with tents, industrial work clothes, water and basic food supplies. Without the large RV generously loaned by the "Free Kids" project, it would have been very difficult to hold the camp. It was the start of Golden Week, a traditional Spring holiday in Japan. The azalea was in full bloom along the expressway verges. As we neared Fukushima prefecture the excellent road became bumpy, more and more houses were covered in blue tarpaulin where the earthquake had dislodged roof tiles but otherwise all seemed normal. We moved to an ordinary road and suddenly we were in a coastal town where there were no more damaged roofs because there were no more houses. A scene of desolation. Piles of debris, household goods, merchandise, clothes, toys, files, photos, an almost intact upright piano, boats, vehicles, machines all heaped together on either side of the roads and lanes cleared as part of the initial rescue work to access people trapped, dead or injured by the colossal force of the tsunami.'

 

Above is an extract from Ann Kobayashi from SCI Japan about the initiative by SCI Japan to try and help some communities devestated by the recent earthquake and tsunami. Read More