Impressions from the CARE Team in Kamaishi
The CARE Japan advance team left Tokyo at midnight on Thursday and arrived in the Iwate region the next morning. Iwate is one of the prefectures heavily destroyed by a massive earthquake and a tsunami that hit Japan on Friday, March 11. Upon arrival at Kamiashi city the small team with assistant program director Futaba Kaiharazuka faced severe cold conditions. They saw the harsh reality with their own eyes: The disaster victims do not only suffer from the effects of such a large scale disaster, but also have to cope with the extreme cold of the Japanese winter.
The CARE team then met with representatives from the local Government in charge of the relief activities. The representatives explained that the ‘Sea Plaza’, a Kamaishi production centre on the coast was being used as a base for the relief supplies, which the local Government and military distribute. CARE Japan’s team delivered all items brought to this base.
Afterwards the CARE Japan team began an inspection the city of Unosumai and soon saw everyone by the side of the road suddenly close their eyes and bow their heads. “It was a windy day, so we presumed people were trying to stop dust going in their eyes. But then we heard the commemorative siren sound and we realised it was exactly one week since the disaster struck”, says Futaba Kaiharazuka. After walking a little further and crossing the bridge in the centre of the town, the state of damage was a complete contrast; there were cars that had been hurled into shops, upturned houses and a mountain of rubble. “It was as if we were looking at an old wartime photograph”, Futaba Kaiharazuka explains. “We visited a three storey guesthouse that is on the coastline; only the ground floor was flooded, so the upper floors were fine and dozens of relatives and friends were helping each other and sheltering there.” The neighbouring Nehama beach has totally merged with the sea and only a remnant remains.
Numerous disaster victims told the team that there was hardly any damage caused by the earthquake, but the giant tsunami destroyed everything. In a country prone to earthquakes such as Japan, there is advanced architectural technology; even if there was a record-setting earthquake, the damage and victims would be manageable. “But I was reminded that in the event of a tsunami, no matter how advanced the technology, the only countermeasure is to escape”, said Futaba Kaiharazuka. “According to our driver from the local area the Route 45 road that runs north to south along the coast was totally destroyed. Cities such as Kamaishi, Kuribayashi and Miyako are in a region that can only be accessed on land by this road. They are still isolated; even one week on the situation there is still unclear. In order for relief aid to reach the area, sea or air access is necessary.”
As the Deputy Mayor of Kamaishi City told the CARE team there are 63 evacuation centres housing 9,883 evacuees. At least 458 people are dead and 470 are reported missing - but inaccessible areas are not included in these statistics. After delivering the first round of relief supplies, the next step for the CARE Japan team is to carry out an assessment in order to determine people’s needs. CARE recognizes that Japan has some of the best emergency response capacity in the world, but a disaster of this magnitude would overwhelm any country. CARE’s response therefore will focus on assisting local authorities fill any gaps in the ongoing response, and working with local groups to help meet the needs of the thousands of people affected by the disaster.