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CHILD rights organisation Plan International has launched a targeted response to help victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, it was announced today.
The aid will focus on providing child care and protection programs through Japanese partner NGOs and local authorities in the Sendai region of north-east Japan.
Plan’s immediate concern is the welfare of tens of thousands of vulnerable children who have been forced to flee their homes with their families as nearly half a million people are currently living in temporary shelters.
Many schools in the northern districts are currently serving as temporary shelters, including 5 pre-schools and more than 80 primary schools. Extreme cold weather, in some places snow, is hampering relief operations and worsening the plight of the survivors, especially children.
Plan’s immediate aid will focus on providing warm clothing, heating equipment, water and sanitation, food, health care, supporting community kitchens, and providing child-friendly spaces for children.
The first stage of the response is expected to last 3 months with a 15-month recovery program focusing on ‘emotional first-aid’ for children, community disaster risk-reduction, educational support and getting children back to safe schools.
Plan has a small local and international team assessing needs on the ground. Plan in Japan has launched an in-country appeal and to date, some $140,000 has been raised from existing supporters.
“Japan is a wealthy, developed nation which has mounted a massive rescue and relief operation, but children’s suffering at the peak of a crisis is universal and a challenge,” said Plan’s Disaster Co-ordinator Dr Unni Krishnan.
Director of Plan in Japan Gabriel Kazuo Tsurumi said: “A country’s GDP and levels of poverty obviously affect its ability to recover long-term but right now, there are multiple disasters, the need is still enormous and there are gaps where specific help is needed and where Plan can supplement the State aid effort.”
Plan’s previous work in Japan has consisted of advocacy and fundraising activities but the organisation has a track-record of responding to major humanitarian crises worldwide including the 2004 tsunami, Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods. ENDS
Plan staff in the region- Japanese & English speaking are available for comment.
Please contact:
Europe/ UK
Stuart Coles
+44 (0) 7500 066 891
Stuart.coles@plan-international.org
Davinder Kumar
+44 (0) 7739 32 61 64
Davinder.kumar@plan-international.org
Asia:
Nopporn Wong-Anan
+66 81 839 3032
Nopporn.wong-anan@plan-international.org
Dena Allen
+66 898 13 70 71
Dena.allen@plan-international.org
Plan is a child-rights based development organisation which operates in 48 developing countries worldwide. www.plan-international.org
