Emergency Relief
Emergency relief work was carried out in 2007 in three areas: the Noto Peninsula earthquake (March), Chuetsu-oki earthquake (July) and the Bangladesh Cyclone (November). Because of efforts to create face-to-face relationships with communities and the particular importance of this in relief work, SVA is also continuing to join in activities of affiliate Tokyo Volunteer Network for Disaster Relief, network building with other disaster relief organizations and disaster education with members of the SVA Disaster Relief Supporters.
Noto Peninsula Earthquake Relief Activities
On March 25, 2007, an earthquake measuring 6.9 magnitudes occurred off the Noto Peninsula, in Ishikawa prefecture, claiming one life and damaging over 10,000 homes. For the month following the disaster, SVA staffs were dispatched to the Wajima Disaster Volunteer Center to coordinate volunteers at the site and provide support for planning and running disaster assistance aid programs by the Council of Social Welfare and local volunteer groups. In the heavily damaged Monzen ward built originarity in front of Sotoshu's Daihonzan Soujiji Soin, SVA also supported Gyocha activities (communicating with victims over tea to assess their needs) started by Sotoshu priests.
Chuetsu-oki Earthquake Relief Activities
On July 16, 2007, an earthquake measuring 6.8 magnitudes occurred off Chuetsu coastal areas in Niigata prefecture, claiming 15 lives, injuring 2,315 people and completely destroying 1,319 homes. Over a three month period, SVA dispatched six staff to help coordinate volunteer work. At the Disaster Volunteer Center set up by the Kashiwazaki City Council of Social Welfare and Sotoshu Volunteer Center(Sotoshu VC)set by Headquarter of Sotoshu Local Task Force, we helped manage the Volunteer center and organize support system for residents of temporary shelters. At the Sotoshu VC, we coordinated Gyocha activities at evacuation areas and temporary shelters.
Cyclone Relief Activities in Bangladesh (Preliminary Survey)
In the middle of the night on November 15, 2007, southern Bangladesh was hit by a huge cyclone that claimed over 3,000 lives and affected about 1.5 million households. The floods did not recede in low-lying areas, because it was pre-harvest season, many victims lost their livelihoods. SVA dispatched an investigation team two weeks after to see what the situation was on the ground and to find out what assistance was needed, given that the disaster was not reported on in Japan very much. We decided to provide assistance for a period of six months, beginning January 2008. We are helping in the recovery of the disaster-hit areas through providing school materials for children and building community centers and cyclone shelters.
Support for Miyake Island "House of Winds"
In the year of 2000, people of Miyake island had evacuated to out of island for over four years after eruption. Then, since residents whom of 40% are elderly began returning to Miyake Island from the fall of 2005, SVA has continued to provide support for their recovery, mostly through the community space "House of Winds", which opened in 2005. In July, we participated in a training session for volunteer which was also an opportunity for interaction with residents of the island, and in December, we joined year-end volunteer clean up activities sponsored by "House of Winds". Two years have passed since people began efforts to rebuild their lives on the island, and SVA will continue to work with affiliate Tokyo Volunteer Network for Disaster Relief to provide assistance through activities to help Miyake Island residents.
Collaboration with SVA Disaster Relief Supporters
SVA holds monthly meetings with SVA Disaster Relief Supporters, who carry out disaster prevention activities in their own communities. Supporters use this space to introduce their work to each other and discuss how to continue to collaborate, through cooperation during times of local disaster and camps and workshops on the theme of disaster prevention. The year 2007 saw several disasters within Japan, and through these networks, we studied ways to assist victims and broaden our network.
Participation in Disaster Training for the Tokyo Metropolitan Area
SVA participated from the planning stages of an evacuation drill for Tokyo Metropolitan area held in November 2007 for residents of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, to help them get home safely in the case of a major earthquake. 1,227 people from local community and companies joined in the Aid Station drill, which helps in providing water and foods and rest stops for evacuees. 1,853 people walked four routes from Tokyo, out towards Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa and Western Tokyo. With the support of the local community and the Sotoshu Zenpukuji Temple, SVA set up an Aid Station in Zenpukuji Town, Suginami Ward, and took part in the evacuation drill.
