Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Japan.
On March 11, northern Japan was stricken by an unprecedented magnitude 9.0 earthquake that triggered tsunamis and sparked a nuclear crisis. By Sunday, March 20, the number of confirmed dead and currently missing or unaccounted for had surpassed 21,000 people.

The actual toll could be much higher, as entire neighborhoods and families were swept away, with no one left to report their absence. Yet, glimmers of hope still arose, as when an 80-year-old woman and 16-year-old boy emerged, miraculously alive, from beneath the rubble in the town of Ishinomaki nine days after the earthquake.

Altruistic care in the tsunami aftermath was also seen in one dog who loyally stood guard to protect an injured fellow dog, with both since being rescued.

Meanwhile, amid below-freezing temperatures and snowfall, even those who survived the quake and tsunami have often become vulnerable, especially as hospitals are already struggling with a lack of staff, medicine, and other essential supplies.

With a large majority of the more critical cases being diagnosed as hypothermia, at least 15 patients have been known to perish in hospitals thus far. Meanwhile, over 350,000 people remain in overcrowded shelters that due to persistent energy shortages are generally cold and lack water, food and electricity.

Having followed the situation in Japan with utmost concern since the initial catastrophe, Supreme Master Ching Hai has offered an accumulated US$80,000 to aid Japan. With her sorrowful prayers and love, she asked that our Association members please go to render emergency assistance such as bringing medicine and other critical necessities, especially for the vulnerable young and elderly, and also requested that if any of
the doctors or nurses free, to go if they can to help.

After assessing the situation at the devastated coastal city of Rikuzentakata, our Association’s relief team from Japan and Formosa (Taiwan) filled several large trucks with relief goods to deliver to the Rikuzentakata City Disaster Countermeasures Office.

They arrived as Rikuzentakata City Mayor Futoshi Toba, whose own wife is missing and has barely been able to see his 12-year-old son due to tending to the entire city’s needs, was about to announce serious news.

Futoshi Toba, Mayor of Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan (M): As we have informed you, at 14:46 today, we have decided to call off our investigation activity of lifesaving. The Governor of Iwate prefecture has announced this. Because we have to move ahead. We hear that a lot of remains have been discovered. However, the figure has not been announced yet at all.
After that, missing persons are 1,783 people. The number of shelters is 67, and 9,547 people are taking shelter. We, the city government, must also think about the future of the citizens who are alive and taking shelter. Therefore, we think that we have to work further for them. Well, to tell you the truth, at this moment, to comment on what kind of town or how we are going to revive is impossible.

VOICE: Our Association members went to bring the supplies, including undergarments, socks, slippers, toothbrushes, and toothpastes, blankets, pocket warmers, snacks and sweets, water, diapers, etc.

The city had not yet received a number of these materials, and Mr. Shirakawa was deeply appreciative for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s timely aid.

Koichi Shirakawa, Administrative Manager, Rikuzentakata City Disaster Countermeasures Office (M): Yes. Thank you for your goods of support. A lot of disaster victims have not been able to even change their clothes yet since they were struck by the earthquakes and the tsunamis.

We are very grateful to your kindness providing us daily commodities such as undergarments, toothbrushes, toothpastes, and so on today.

VOICE: The relief team again checked with the office’s administrative manager, Mr. Koichi Shirakawa, as well as medical personnel to see what else was required.

They replied that in the chaotic aftermath of the disasters, they couldn’t even grasp what was still lacking. As this is the case in many areas, part of the relief team meanwhile traveled to the other badly-hit areas of in Iwate Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture to assess the situation and needs.

Meanwhile, courageous nuclear power plant personnel are still inside a danger zone, risking exposure to high levels of harmful radiation as they work to cool the overheating reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, hoping to prevent a radiation leak reminiscent of the 1986 Chernobyl incident.

On Sunday, electricity was restored to reactors No. 1 and No. 2. However, officials say it could be days before power can be supplied to reactors No. 3 and No. 4, which still need emergency cooling. Personnel began spraying water into a spent fuel pool at reactor No. 4 for the first time since its cooling system failed.

At No. 3, which was similarly sprayed for days, pressure rose earlier on Sunday but stabilized again; thus, an emergency release of radioactive steam was not needed.

On the other hand, the least critical No. 5 and No. 6 were verified as safe and under control by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Also that day, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said that the power plant will inevitably have to be closed once the situation has been stabilized. Meanwhile, more Japanese food products are being identified with higher-than-normal radiation levels and in a wider area than expected, prompting some
shipments to be halted by officials.

With our gratitude for the selfless efforts of the Japanese people risking their lives and overcoming personal loss to assist others in need, we also thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her devoted care as well as our relief team members for their willing aid.

Our prayers for the protection of the disaster stricken residents and that such tragic conditions become a thing of the past as we strive for gentler regard of our shared planetary home.