Christ First Forum

by **Jeani** » 16 Mar 2011, 09:43

Catastrophe in Japan

Samaritan’s Purse team in Japan to deliver emergency aid to victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami

A Samaritan's Purse disaster relief team is providing relief supplies to people affected by the deadly earthquake and massive tsunami that hit the northeastern coast of the country on March 11.

Despite being slowed by a heavy snowstorm, a 14-member team consisting of Samaritan’s Purse staff and local church members arrived in the Sendai area Wednesday with a truck loaded with relief supplies such as blankets, hygiene kits, water, and first aid kits.

Other team members are traveling to Osaka to set up a logistical hub to facilitate and expedite the purchase and transport of more relief supplies.

“The people of Japan need help, and we are going to help them however we can,” said Ken Isaacs, Samaritan’s Purse International’s vice president of projects, who is in Japan to direct our response. “Our partners here called us to ask us to bring our expertise, and it is our privilege to serve alongside them.”

Immediately upon arrival, Isaacs and our team met with a very high-level Japanese government official who expressed his full support for our relief efforts.

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Back in the United States, we are organizing a 747 cargo jet to airlift approximately 90 tons of emergency relief such as blankets, hygiene supplies, heavy-duty plastic shelter materials, and water filtration systems. The plane is scheduled to depart for Japan on Friday.

Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham has conducted evangelistic Festivals in the Japanese cities of Osaka and Okinawa. The events were organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which is working with us for this response.

Pastor Yoshikazu Takada, who was chairman of the Osaka Festival committee, requested our assistance. “Please come. We need your help,” he said.

The massive tsunami was triggered by an 9.0-magnitude earthquake, one of the most powerful in recorded history. Giant waves engulfed coastal towns and swept away houses, cars, boats, and trains.

The official death toll from the earthquake and tsunami has surpassed 3,700, and is still expected to rise significantly in the coming days. Survivors are facing a desperate situation as food and clean water is in short supply. There is no electricity to heat homes in freezing temperatures.

The threat of radiation leakage from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is adding to the suffering. Multiple explosions have happened there, and Japanese officials said that “harmful levels” of radiation have been detected in the surrounding area. The government has advised residents within 12 miles of the plant to evacuate, and those within 18 miles to stay indoors and seal their homes.

Japan has accepted assistance from 15 countries, mostly in the area of search and rescue. These and other humanitarian efforts have been hampered by strong aftershocks that continue to rock the area. At their Tokyo hotel, our staff were roused from their sleep twice by aftershocks.

The Samaritan’s Purse team reports that supplies are very limited in Tokyo. Electricity there is on rotating intervals.

Please pray for the people affected by this catastrophe, and for God to grant wisdom and direct our steps as we respond.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP
PRAY:
•That God would provide peace and comfort to the suffering.
•For wisdom and strength for our church partners.
•That God would go before us to open doors and provide resources.
•For our team’s safety as they travel to the area.
GIVE:
Please visit our donation page to help provide the resources to meet critical needs in Japan
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.ph ... for_japan/

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Catastrophe in Japan

Catastrophe in Japan

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