Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Japan.
Late on Saturday, April 9, a new 6.1-magnitude temblor struck off the southwestern coast of Japan; however, there were fortunately no reports of casualties or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued.

Since the historic 9.0-magnitude quake and devastating tsunami on March 11, Japan’s National Police Agency has confirmed more than 12,900 fatalities and over 14,900 listed as missing, not including an incalculable number of people who may forever be unaccounted for. As of Saturday, April 9, over 153,000 people remained in evacuation centers.

Displaced victim, Akasaki, Ofunato city, Iwate prefecture (M): Some people were dead in this area, and I feel regretful that I was not able to save all the people. I wanted to save as many people as possible.

Hiroki Shida, Administrative Director of the Disaster Countermeasures Center of Akasaki, Ofunato city, Iwate prefecture (M):In an instant, I witnessed electric wires, houses, and other various things being swept away at one blow. Not only the mere sight of the tsunami was terrible, but the sound was extremely fearful.

I don’t know how to express it, but it was groaning sound like the mixture of many horrible and dreadful sounds beyond descript-xion. The tsunami swallowed up the neighborhood, and I sensed fear that I have never experienced in my life in many ways. Some parts of the top floor in my house were left undamaged,
but probably I don’t think I can live here from now on.  

(Correspondent (F): What happened to your family?)

I lost one of my family members, but everyone is in a similar situation. The people of this neighborhood are really patient and have been trying to support each other since the day of the disaster.

And we would like to give consideration to each other because we are on the same boat, and would like to keep assisting each other from now on.

VOICE: In response to the disaster, Supreme Master Ching Hai had donated US$80,000 in aid with all her love and sorrowful prayers, while asking that our Association members, including the medically trained, please go to comfort those most in need, especially the elderly and young together. Saying that expenses would be reimbursed, she also requested that they bring emergency supplies such as medicine, along with copies of her book, “The Dogs in My Life,” to comfort their hearts. With contributions from our worldwide Association members, the combined donations total more than US$172,000.

Apart from this amount,our Association members from Japan, Formosa (Taiwan), and South Korea who have been working in the disaster area also covered their own travel and related expenses of over US$21,300. Upon arriving in Japan on March 31, our Association’s South Korean relief team immediately went to assess the situationin Iwate Prefecture.

Mr. Hiroki Shida (M): Five thousand people live in the Akasaki area. About half of 5,000 people were affected; their houses were swept away or damaged by the tsunami.

VOICE: After returning to Tokyo to purchase and prepare necessities, our Association members again headed for Iwate Prefecture, taking a long detour overnight to avoid a warning radius of 80 kilometers around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Although fuel supplies were scarce and many roads severely damaged,
they were successful in arriving at the disaster relief warehouse in Akasaki of Ofunato city, where they donated 20 10-kilogram bags of rice and 18 boxes of cookies, as well as needed mattresses, pillows and 400 T-shirts, in addition to 80 copies of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s #1 international bestseller, “The Dogs in My Life.” The relief team then went to Kamaici Commercial High school, a shelter for 140 victims, and distributed 42 10-kilogram bags of rice as well as fresh water and clothes.

Displaced victim (M): I am very much thankful that people in the world are cooperating to support us in this way. I feel that the Earth is really one.

Mr. Hiroki Shida (M): It is Supreme Master Ching Hai relief team’s fourth or the fifth visit to this evacuation center. Owing to your meticulous support, not only those who live inside of this evacuation center, but also all the people taking refuge in this area, could get those supplies provided by you. Also, those things were
seldom supplied so far, and we heartily appreciate your consideration. And, Supreme Master Ching Hai, your vision of spreading the slogan “Be Veg, Go Green 2 Save the Planet!” seems to be very right.

We surely think that climate change and other problems must be halted. We would like to work very hard so that we can send all the citizens to these important messages. So please keep guiding us. Best regards. Thank you.

VOICE: Meanwhile, at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, plant operator Tokyo Electric Company (TEPCO) has begun installing an enclosure around reactor No. 2, where a leak had previously been seeping highly irradiated water into the Pacific Ocean. Reinforcements include seven steel sheets and
a 120-meter wide fence to prevent more leaks of toxic water.

Workers are also trying to remove highly contaminated water from a concrete tunnel at the reactor, after levels began rising since the leak into the ocean was halted on Wednesday.
At the same time, they continue pumping nitrogen into the No. 1 reactor to prevent an explosive hydrogen buildup. The discharge of radioactive water into the sea is also continuing through Sunday, a day longer than previously planned due to delays caused by Thursday’s powerful aftershock.

TEPCO also hopes to gain more insight on how to proceed with restoration work via a small remote-controlled helicopter being flown in to survey the plant. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission announced on Friday that it had detected traces of atmospheric radioactive iodine that was believed to have traveled from
the Japanese facility. Also that day, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said it was widening a ban on the import of farm produce to 12 total areas that include Tokyo, as well as 11 other prefectures.

Radioactivity continues to be found in fish, this time near the city of Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture, where radioactive cesium over the legal limit for consumption was discovered on Saturday.

Our appreciation, Japanese and international governments, relief personnel, and nuclear experts and workers, for your efforts to stabilize the situation in Japan. We also thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her unconditional aid to the victims, as well as our Association’s relief team for their tireless endeavors.
Our prayers for the smooth recovery of regular daily lives in Japan as humanity’s shared benevolence helps calm the ecosphere.