Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Japan.
With the confirmed toll of perished and missing reaching an estimated 28,000 as of Thursday, March 31, survivors continue to struggle three weeks after the unprecedented earthquake and tsunami ravaged the northeastern parts of the country.

With officials unable to evaluate the number of unaccounted for in some coastal municipalities, search operations also have not been carried out within the 20-kilometer exclusion zone around the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, with officials saying there may be as many as 1,000 victims' bodies in the region.

Meanwhile, thousands remain in evacuation shelters, with businesses and other operations hampered by rolling power outages. More than 22,000 people thus far have been seen at consultation counters set up by Japan’s Labor Ministry in the hardest hit Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures, asking about wages, unemployment benefits, and finding new jobs.
With all her love and sorrowful prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai has donated US$80,000 to assist Japan. Combined with additional contributions from our Association members around the world, the amount now totals over US$160,000.

Saying that extra expenses would be reimbursed, she also requested that our Association members, including doctors and nurses, please go help victims, especially the vulnerable elderly and young, and bring them urgent necessities such as medicine. Our Association’s relief teams from Japan and Formosa (Taiwan) began immediately conducting relief work in the worst-hit areas, joined by members from South Korea.

On March 29, our Association members left Tokyo Center with 4-ton truck, a 2-ton truck, and a wagon car of relief supplies to Iwate Prefecture. They were touched by how survivors have come together in their long road to recovery.

Correspondent (F): When we visited this refuge and asked what kind of supplies are needed, I heard you say that there are places more severely damaged than this place, so please give aids to such areas first. Could you share how you felt at that time?

Mr. Hiroki Shida, Administrative Manager of the Disaster Countermeasures Center of Akasaki-cho Fishing Village Center, Oofunato City, Iwate Prefecture (M): What I saw often through mass media was the heart-wrenching, catastrophic situation of Rikuzentakata City. I understood very well that compared with the situation right here, over there the situation was far worse and unmanageable.
I think I said such a thing because I want you to help Rikuzentakata city as well as Oofunato city.
VOICE: The relief teams delivered sleeping mats, pillows, and rice to Oofunato City.

Mr. Hiroki Shida (M): It is really hard to rest or sleep well on a firm surface of only a blanket. It is the same with a pillow. We Japanese are accustomed to sleeping on a pillow, so we cannot sleep without it. Today we could receive such a lot of sleeping mats or mattresses, and pillows, so I think those who gave up sleeping will be able to sleep really well, even at night. Thank you very much for your kindness.

VOICE: The relief team also gave the victims 12 sets of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s #1 international bestseller, “Dogs in My Life.”

Mr. Hiroki Shida (M): I believe that there are lots of children who have trauma because of this tragedy.
And I was just thinking of my wish to comfort the children even a little with the help of picture story books like these. I am very much grateful for your deep consideration. I really appreciate your kindness.

Mr. Hiroki Shida (M): You have given us what we really need most for the moment, so I think we can live one way or another. Thank you very much.

VOICE: In what is now the worst nuclear crisis since the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe, trouble continues at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Workers are still racing to remove water contaminated with high concentrations of radiation inside the turbine buildings of the No.1 through No.4 reactors, as well as in tunnels outside Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

This must be completed before engineers can continue crucial work to restore the plant’s cooling infrastructure. After hydrogen explosions at the plant’s No. 1 and 3 reactors earlier in the month led to the release of radioactive dust and debris over a wide area, teams sprinkled synthetic resin
at certain locations on Thursday in hopes of preventing it from becoming airborne or entering the sea.

Meanwhile, as readings of radioactive iodine in seawater near the plant surged to an all-time high of more than 4,385 times the legal threshold, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced it is sending another marine environment expert to analyze the ocean water situation.
On Thursday, abnormal radioactive cesium was found in beef Fukushima's Ten'ei village, more than 70 kilometers from the power plant. It was contaminated with 510 becquerels per kilogram of cesium, which is above the limit of 500. This type of radioactive particle can build up in the body,
leading to cancer.

Across the seas in the United States, traces of radioactive iodine have been detected in milk from the state of Washington, after radiation from the Japanese plant was also found in the air and rainwater of several other states.

The US Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration said they are stepping up the monitoring of radiation in milk, rain, and drinking water across the nation.
Meanwhile, the Singaporean government widened its ban on Japanese food imports to include fruits and vegetables from Shizuoka prefecture after radioactive iodine six times higher than the legal limit was found in spinach.

On Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced that the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant will be closed down once the reactors are cooled and stabilized.
As the first foreign leader to visit Japan since the disaster struck, French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke in solidarity as he called for a Group of 20 nations meeting on international nuclear safety and told Prime Minister Kan, “Japan is not alone. In the face of this calamity, all of the G-20 nations wish to aid Japan.”

Our deep appreciation for all the Japanese and international teams working to stabilize conditions for the disaster-stricken people. Our thankfulness also for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s wholehearted support and for the tireless endeavors of our Association’s relief team members. We pray for the protection and swift recovery of the cherished Japanese people, and that humanity's greater benevolence brings the changes needed to restore the balance of our ecosphere.