Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Japan.
According to a recent measurement by Japan's Coast Guard, last month’s historic 9.0-magnitude quake has caused the seabed off Miyagi Prefecture to move 24 meters east-southwest, a shift four times any other recorded in the country.

As of Thursday evening, the National Police had confirmed over 12,690 fatalities, with more than 14,000 people officially reported as missing and an unknown number still unaccounted for due to the scope of the devastation.

Expressing her sorrowful prayers and love, Supreme Master Ching Hai had donated US$80,000 in aid, while asking that our Association members, including doctors and nurses, please go render assistance to the most desperate, especially the elderly and young together.

Saying that extra expenses would be reimbursed, she requested that they deliver urgently needed supplies such as medicine, along with copies of her book, “The Dogs in My Life,” to bring consolation to their hearts. With contributions from our worldwide Association members, the total donations amount to
more than US$172,000.

Immediately following the initial disasters, relief teams from Japan, Formosa (Taiwan), and South Korea have been going to the hardest-hit areas to offer comfort. They covered their own travel and related expenses of over US$7,600.

As per Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving request for updates, the following is a report by our Association’s relief team from Gunma Center, Japan.


Supreme Master Ching Hai sent the following reply:

VOICE: Our thankfulness for Supreme Master Ching Hai's permission to share these details with our viewers as well as for our Association’s Foreign Group provision of this report.

In updates at Tokyo Electric Company (TEPCO)’s damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, an operation that began Wednesday night to pump nitrogen gas into the containment vessel of the No.1 reactor was going smoothly as of Thursday. This measure was intended to prevent an explosive accumulation of hydrogen gas.

Thus far, 21 workers have reportedly been exposed to more than 100 millisieverts of radiation, which is the top normal limit of exposure during an emergency. During the ongoing crisis, this maximum allowed was increased to 250 millisieverts.

Amid radiation fears, expecting mothers and small children in Iitate village of Fukushima Prefecture, some 40 kilometers from the plant, are being voluntarily evacuated. On Wednesday, the radiation level in the village was 6 microsieverts per hour. At these readings, people exposed continuously over a week-long period would receive more than 1,000 microsieverts, which increases cancer risk and is the annual limit recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

Meanwhile, foreign tourists have been avoiding Japan during the season normally considered one of the most popular to visit the nation. In neighboring South Korea, school boards across the nation have advised principals to tell students to refrain from outdoor activities, as low levels of radioactive iodine and cesium have been detected in the air since the disaster.

On Thursday, schools in Gyeonggi province were closed over concerns of radioactive rain.  Our appreciation, Japanese and international governments, aid groups, rescue personnel, as well as radiation experts and workers for your continued assistance to Japan.

We also thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her attentive care of the disaster victims, as well as our Association’s relief team for their tireless efforts to help.

Our prayers for the nation's recovery of regular function for all citizens, as humanity strives to restore Earth’s balance through our benevolent, elevating actions.