Taiwan’s Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation arrived on Monday to deliver emergency supplies to Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck on 28 July, killing at least 38 people.
As of Sunday, in addition to the 38 people killed, 13 people had sustained serious injuries, and at least 8,556 residents had been displaced, according to a statement issued by Tzu Chi.
The shipment included 148 multifunctional folding beds and 40 partition tents from the foundation’s Jing Si product line. The supplies were transported by China Airlines from Taiwan to Fukuoka on Saturday, before being transferred to the affected area.
A 10-member team of Tzu Chi volunteers from Taiwan and Japan assembled at Fukuoka Airport on Sunday to assess conditions and coordinate the distribution of emergency supplies. The group also brought two portable water purification units intended to help communities facing possible shortages of safe drinking water.
According to the foundation, the folding beds and partition tents were developed specifically for use in disaster shelters. When used together, the items are intended to provide displaced residents with greater comfort and privacy in public evacuation facilities.
“Elevating beds off the ground helps protect elderly residents from cold drafts and floor dampness, while partition tents provide essential personal space in crowded public facilities,” the foundation said. (Taipei Times)
The supplies were scheduled to be transported to Yatsushiro City on Monday, with volunteers from Tzu Chi’s Japan branch overseeing local logistics and distribution.
Tzu Chi said the folding beds were developed at the request of the organization’s founder, Buddhist nun and humanitarian Master Cheng Yen, after she witnessed the conditions endured by survivors of severe flooding in Pakistan in 2010.
The foundation subsequently developed its partition tents following the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Hualien County in eastern Taiwan in February 2018. During that disaster, volunteers observed that survivors and emergency personnel staying in temporary shelters had little personal space or privacy.
Founded in Taiwan by Master Cheng Yen in 1966, Tzu Chi has grown into an international Buddhist humanitarian organization active in disaster relief, medical care, education, environmental protection, and poverty alleviation.
The organization’s disaster response work generally combines the distribution of material assistance with longer-term support for affected communities. Its volunteers have participated in relief operations following earthquakes, floods, wildfires, typhoons, and other disasters in Asia and around the world.
Japan has experienced several major earthquakes in recent decades because of its location near the boundaries of multiple tectonic plates. Kumamoto Prefecture was previously struck by a series of powerful earthquakes in April 2016, including a magnitude 7.0 main shock that caused widespread damage and displaced tens of thousands of residents.
Following the latest earthquake, emergency personnel and humanitarian organizations have continued to assess damage, provide shelter, and identify the needs of residents who are unable to return to their homes. More than 46,000 households in Japan are reported to be in lack of water and fuel shortages stretch across the affected area. Health concerns remain high as temperatures reached as high as 40ºC in the country’s south on Monday.
The governor of Kumamoto, Takashi Kimura, noted the “abnormal heat” affecting the area, adding that many evacuation centers lacked clean water and medical necessities. “While taking into consideration the governor’s requests, we will quickly examine what the government can do for the disaster-hit region and affected people and move proactively,” Takaichi said. (The Guardian)
Tzu Chi said its volunteers would continue working with local personnel to monitor conditions and determine whether additional assistance would be required.
See more
Tzu Chi emergency aid arrives in Japan to assist quake survivors (Taipei Times)
Japan’s prime minister tours earthquake-hit sites as recovery efforts hampered by soaring temperatures (The Guardian)
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