Interactive Map Shows Targeted Aid

October 3, 2011

To illustrate where aid has been provided in Japan to help people affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March, Direct Relief International released an interactive map today.

See the map here 

More than $2.4 million in cash grants have been provided to eight groups assisting the people most vulnerable in the crisis, including the elderly and disabled. With so many communities destroyed along the northeastern coast of Japan in the earthquake and tsunami, basic needs like food, shelter, and work have been critical in the recovery. The interactive map dynamically displays where Direct Relief’s grants have been targeted to boost the recovery.

Through its network of generous donors, local nonprofits providing critically needed relief services on the ground in Japan, and its partnership with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Direct Relief has funded programs to fill needs ranging from hot meals to debris removal to community-restoring mobile libraries.

Direct Relief’s Emergency Response Coordinator in Japan, Carl Williams, sent this moving dispatch in September.

Learn more about the individual grants for these partners:

While the recovery effort continues and much work remains to be done, there are stories of hope. Direct Relief is committed to helping the people of Japan recovery from the earthquake and tsunami. Read a Six-Month Report here

Grant Supports Mobile Library for Tsunami Survivors

September 30, 2011

Direct Relief and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) awarded this week $82,000 to the Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA) to support the remodeling of a mobile library vehicle.

The current mobile library, which serves 150 households in Iwate Prefecture on the tsunami-affected coast, is a small truck with bookshelves. To continue operating and expand services to additional temporary housing establishments, SVA will remodel a van donated by Nissan. The remodeled van will be usable in cold weather, hold more books and supplies, and allow for the expansion of the services.

SVA has been operating a mobile library, which travels to 13 temporary housing establishments in four towns on a bi-weekly rotation. Children and adults read and borrow books, participate in activities such as origami and drawing, and socialize. Volunteers help run the library by setting up, reading to and doing crafts with the children, and lending books.

Without SVA’s mobile library services, people in Yamada, Otsuchi, Ofunato, and Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture would not have any access to library services. SVA staff report that the tsunami in this region significantly diminished library services—books were destroyed, library buildings were damaged, and library workers were lost in the disaster.

This is the second grant awarded to SVA in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 to boost recovery for the people most affected by these devastating events. Read more about grants to SVA. 

An Inspiring Visit to Eight Grant Recipients

September 9, 2011

Direct Relief staff and Japanese American Citizens League representatives visited eight grantees who continue to provide essential services for people in the hardest-hit areas. Read the report here 

Grant to AAR Japan Supports Long-Term Recovery

July 18, 2011

Direct Relief and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) recently awarded $400,000 to the Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan) to support AAR Japan’s Phase 2 Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Project. 

Although AAR Japan’s primary focus is on the distribution of food and other essential items, the 31-year-old organization has also initiated long-term recovery efforts that include repairing damaged welfare facilities, constructing and distributing temporary housing units, and operating mobile medical units. 

New projects funded by Direct Relief in Phase 2 include the distribution of vehicles to welfare facilities to support the Building Healthy Communities Project, which will provide physical and occupational therapy, organize community-building activities, and provide post-traumatic stress counseling to people affected by the disaster.

AAR Japan is working in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures, providing services to the most vulnerable people, including those with disabilities, the elderly, and the displaced. AAR Japan reports that approximately 100,000 displaced people are gradually returning to their homes or moving into temporary housing.  Many have lost their livelihoods in the fishing, farming, and other industries, and still need support. Reports of infectious diseases, caused by heat and poor hygiene conditions, are increasing as temperatures rise in the tsunami-affected regions. Japan has not requested medical aid from Direct Relief.

Based on frequent needs assessments, AAR Japan has committed to providing food, hot baths, transportation, and repair of welfare facilities until normal services resume in the target communities. In the first two months of the relief efforts, AAR Japan provided assistance to approximately 61,000 people. Distributed items include fuel, rice, milk, vegetables, blankets, towels, medicine, boots, books, beds, wheelchairs, and hand soap.

Eighth Japan Grant Supports Essential Services, Boosts Employment and Recovery

Total granted reaches $2 million

June 29, 2011

Direct Relief and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) this week awarded a $250,000 grant to the International Volunteer Center of Yamagata (IVY), a nonprofit group in Japan, to help provide essential services to the most vulnerable people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in March.

IVY received the grant in support of its Cash for Work (CFW) Project, which employs people in Ishinomaki City and Kesenuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, who lost their jobs, homes, or family members in the earthquake and tsunami.

IVY workers are assigned houses to clear of mud and debris, employment that helps aid the recovery on both a community and personal level. This project not only reduces unemployment, which has spiked since the tsunami, but also makes homes habitable again. The project prioritizes the homes of elderly people living in evacuation centers who do not have the means to clean their own homes.

The CFW project provides:

• Hiring of Workers. IVY has established an interview and hiring process for CFW Project applicants.  New employees receive training and tools to participate in recovery work projects.
• Mud Clearance. Homeowners seeking clean-up services are identified and workers are assigned to the job.  Employees work for five to eight hours a day, six days a week, and are paid about $10 per hour.
• Worker Support. IVY is actively working to create jobs for the CFW Project workers.

While the salaries are not high, the psychological value of the work is. One man who lost his job in fish processing said, “It is not easy work, but I feel better than having nothing to do. I feel accomplishment at the end of the day.”

This eighth grant from the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund brings the total given to $2 million. With a team in Japan managing the grant process and recommending groups for support, Direct Relief is committed to helping the people of Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami to recover and rebuild their lives.

New Grant to Japan-based Group to Help Fill Basic Needs of Displaced People 

May 16, 2011 

To help the most vulnerable people in Japan, Direct Relief has been working closely with community-based nongovernmental organizations in-country to provide aid to people who have been displaced and affected by the March earthquake and tsunami.
Through the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund, Direct Relief and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) are making grants to grassroots groups in Japan. Last week, Direct Relief granted $300,000 to Peace Boat, a Japan-based nongovernmental organization, to help fund operating costs in support of two main projects:

• Mud and Small Debris Clearance - Between 200 and 300 Peace Boat volunteers are working to clear mud from buildings and roads to make communities habitable again. To house displaced people in Ishinomaki prefecture, Peace Boat is renting warehouses and adapting them as temporary accommodations. Direct Relief’s grant will support the mud-clearance project for six months, during which Peace Boat estimates that 4,500 homes, businesses, and public buildings will be cleared at a cost of just over $300 per building. This project brings a semblance of normalcy back to the community and helps stores and businesses reopen.
• Hot Meal Provision - Peace Boat has been delivering hot meals to people living in and outside of shelters since the earthquake and tsunami, and reports that in Ishinomaki, between 12,000 and 15,000 meals per day are needed. While governmental agencies are providing meals, NGOs have been asked to fill the gap. Peace Boat provides hot meals for up to 2,000 people on days when there is a need. Peace Boat staff will work with the community to renovate a commercial kitchen closed by tsunami damage, fixing or replacing equipment and hiring a local chef and cooks.

Last month, Direct Relief provided more than $1.4 million in grants to six groups, including Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC), which facilitates relief activity through local-, prefectural-, and national-level coordination.

JANIC reported this week that except in Fukushima prefecture, the immediate emergency stage has ended. Municipality-level disaster volunteer centers (DVCs) are still playing a central role in volunteer- and relief coordination and information management, yet sometimes lack the necessary staffing.

To facilitate and mange programs in Japan, Direct Relief and JACL have created an in-country advisory team, with local Meiji Gakuin University, an experienced Relief and Recovery Coordinator, and a Japanese graduate student intern from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. JACL and Direct Relief staff members are working with the advisory team in Japan to evaluate the progress of current grants, build relationships with additional Japanese nonprofit organizations, and make recommendations for activities going forward.

Expanded Effort Targets Hardest-Hit Areas, Most Vulnerable People

$1 million in grants awarded to five Japanese nonprofit groups

April 8, 2011

With a focus on helping the most vulnerable people affected by the earthquake and tsunami, Direct Relief International and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) today announced their financial support of several efforts with local Japanese nonprofit groups providing urgently needed assistance for the elderly and disabled, as well as coordinating relief efforts in affected districts.

More than $1 million in cash from the JACL-Direct Relief Japan Relief and Recovery Fund is being provided to five projects managed by different Japanese organizations. The emergency initiatives were approved following an intensive review and consultations last week in Japan among the Japanese groups' leaders, JACL National Executive Director and CEO Floyd Mori, Direct Relief’s Director of International Programs Brett Williams, and faculty of Meiji Gakuin University. The projects enable Japanese groups to continue and expand the provision of essential emergency-response services in their communities and include expanded coordination among private and volunteer relief efforts with local governments through Disaster Volunteer Centers, which serve as the hub of all relief activities in each district.

“Our goal is to ensure that resources that have been so generously donated directly assist the people in Japan who have suffered enormously in this tragedy,” JACL’s Mori said. "These initiatives with excellent Japanese organizations working both intensely and thoughtfully do just that."

An estimated 30,000 people have been killed in the earthquake and tsunami, with 157,600 currently in shelters, according to news reports. In the north, near the epicenter of the quake, 150,000 houses in eight prefectures are without running water and 3.2 million homes are without electricity following a strong aftershock today. Nighttime temperatures have been in the 30s.

In recognition of the many urgent needs of the affected people and the various groups seeking to help, JACL and Direct Relief are providing funding to the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) to support its central role as the coordinating body for groups responding to the disaster. “Our deep experience responding to emergencies has taught us that a well-coordinated response is the best way to reduce waste and duplication that often occurs in the chaotic aftermath of a disaster,” said Direct Relief’s Williams. “We have teamed up with JANIC to ensure that the NGOs working in the affected areas can be as productive as possible.”

The additional projects and organizations being funded were selected for their efforts to assist vulnerable people - such as the elderly who are home-bound in difficult-to-reach areas - as well as their critically important work in coordinating private relief efforts with local government agencies responsible for but challenged by the enormity of overall relief and recovery efforts within their jurisdictions.

The other organizations and their efforts being supported by the JACL-Direct Relief funding are:

• Service for Health in Asian and African Regions (SHARE),  which will focus on providing emergency medical and healthcare support. It is sending a team of doctors, nurses, and logisticians to the Tohoku International Clinic and operating a mobile clinic in areas where all health facilities have been destroyed. The SHARE team will re-establish a visiting nurse care center in Kesen Numa City, one of the areas hardest hit by the tsunami, to serve the elderly population not living at the evacuation centers. While most large evacuation centers offer medical services, this area is home to many elderly people who have remained in their damaged homes.
• Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA), which will transport relief supplies to remote and scattered evacuation centers in Kesen Numa City, provide hot meals for people living in and out of evacuation centers, help clear debris from homes, and transport people to bathing areas to maintain sanitation. “Water and power services have not been restored, so cooking and bathing remain a challenge, especially for the elderly,” Williams adds.
• Shapla Neer, which is operating in the area immediately south of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor, where other NGOs aren’t working. It has partnered with the local government to establish the Iwaki City Nakoso District Volunteer Center, where each district’s response is coordinated with local government entities and nonprofit groups. Shapla Neer will establish a needs-analysis system for people who need support, create a mechanism for matching volunteers with people in need, and establish a volunteer intake system. Because each district is responsible for its local response, a well-coordinated and supported volunteer center is vital to guarantee that no one in need is overlooked.
• Japanese International Volunteer Center (JVC), which started as an agricultural support group, will launch a nutritional support program to bring vegetables and other nutritious foodstuffs to distribution sites. This initiative will support local farms while supplying displaced people with fresh vegetables. JVC also will work with the Kesen Numa Municipal Welfare Council and the Disaster Volunteer Center to coordinate and match volunteers with people who need support.

Direct Relief and JACL will continue to work with and provide financial and technical assistance to local groups providing relief services in Japan.

The five initiatives announced today will draw down on an additional $1 million from the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund, from which $400,000 was disbursed two weeks ago to the Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR).

The total of $1.4 million in cash disbursements represents 56 percent of the total funds received since the JACL-Direct Relief joint effort was formed last month. A central focus of the JACL-Direct Relief effort is to support Japanese community groups assisting the most vulnerable people affected by the emergency.

Expert Panel Assists JACL and Direct Relief Emergency Support Efforts

Direct Relief International Program Director in Japan coordinating efforts

March 29, 2011

Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) National Executive Director and CEO Floyd Mori and Direct Relief International Program Director Brett Williams are in Japan coordinating support for relief and recovery efforts in high-level emergency consultations with Japanese organizations, business leaders, and government officials. The process was arranged by an expert panel of distinguished faculty and staff from Meiji Gakuin University, who organized and offered their services to JACL’s Tokyo chapter upon learning of JACL’s intention to assist.

JACL and Direct Relief established the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami, committing 100 percent of all contributions solely for assistance in Japan. A total of $1.4 million in contributions has been received, with an additional $1 million in pledges made to the fund over the past week. An initial disbursement of $400,000 was made last week to cover the expenses of assisting 15,000 people at 20 sites in the earthquake and tsunami affected areas, as well as those displaced from the evacuation zone near the damaged nuclear reactor. The funds were provided to the Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan), a 31-year-old leading Japanese nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that launched relief efforts immediately following the earthquake and tsunami. AAR has delivered food, kerosene, sleeping bags, warm clothes, and hygiene supplies to 20 care centers.

Additional disbursements of $600,000 will be made this week to Japanese organizations that have been identified, vetted, and interviewed through an expert panel led by Meiji Gakuin University Professor Shigeki Takeo, Director of the University’s International Peace Research Institute Department of International Studies, and two fellow faculty members in International Studies, Megumi Hirayama and Keiko Tanaka. Based on recent meetings, the organizations agreed that the assistance will be targeted to helping the disabled and elderly, who face extraordinary challenges in the immediate crisis and the recovery period ahead.

JACL’s Floyd Mori said today, “The comprehensive briefing and assessments provided by AAR’s officers and staff today reflected tremendous effectiveness, deep insight, and tireless efforts. I can’t think of a better report back to the donors who have generously given of themselves and deserve to know that their contributions are making a direct and meaningful difference for people affected by this crisis.”

In a letter sent shortly after the earthquake to Direct Relief supporters who had begun making unsolicited contributions to help Japan, Direct Relief CEO and President, Thomas Tighe, explained the role Direct Relief would play in this emergency:

“In this rapidly unfolding and complex situation, many of the immediate priorities, including those related to the damaged nuclear reactors and requiring large-scale airlift, involve activities that nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations such as Direct Relief simply do not do. The government of Japan must lead and is leading the emergency response; Direct Relief has offered and will provide whatever support is requested for those efforts.

“However, Direct Relief’s experience, as in the case of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, has shown that gaps always exist―even in rich countries―that nonprofits are well suited to address,” Tighe continued. “Established, credible, locally run civic and nonprofit organizations in Japan will need and benefit from financial support, which is why Direct Relief and JACL are ensuring funds being generously donated are being segregated and will be used only for such purposes as needs become clear.

“Consistent with this approach, contributions made to the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund are being provided to colleague Japanese organizations that were able to move fast, provide essential services, and purchase and use locally available products and services. However, as in the case of AAR Japan, these essential, life-saving steps have necessarily been undertaken with whatever financial resources available.

“We believe the best role we can play in Japan is to ensure that local groups like AAR Japan and the communities depending on them have access to the financial resources being generously donated for Japan.”JACL National Executive Director and CEO Floyd Mori said today, “The comprehensive briefing and assessments provided by AAR’s officers and staff today reflected tremendous effectiveness, deep insight, and tireless efforts. I can’t think of a better report back to the donors who have generously given of themselves and deserve to know that their contributions are making a direct and meaningful difference for people affected by this crisis.”

NBA Basketball Stars Score for the People of Japan

Several NBA stars including Pau Gasol, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, to donate to Direct Relief International’s Japan Relief and Recovery Fund 

March 24, 2011

Direct Relief International, one of the world’s leading medical relief organizations, today announced that twenty players from the National Basketball Association (NBA) have committed to supporting the organization in their effort to help the people of Japan recover from the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.

Many of the players are donating $1,000 for every point they score in their respective games occurring March 25 through 27 including LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Al Horford, JaVale McGee, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. Others have committed to a set donation including DJ Augustin, Jarron Collins, Jason Collins, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Tyreke Evans, Danilo Gallinari, Xavier Henry, Antawn Jamison, Jason Kapono, Quincy Pondexter, Brian Scalabrine, Etan Thomas, and Ben Wallace.

The donations will go to Direct Relief’s Japan Relief and Recovery Fund. Formed with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the Fund supports the immediate health needs of people by working with local authorities best situated to assess, respond, and prepare for the long-term recovery.

“We are incredibly proud that our athletes have rallied together to assist with Direct Relief’s efforts in Japan,” said Arn Tellem, principal of the management division of leading sports marketing and management agency, Wasserman Media Group, that represents the athletes. “Due to the gravity of the situation, we hope that citizens around the world consider following the example of our athletes by making a donation of any amount to an organization of their choice assisting in the Japanese relief efforts.”

Direct Relief has already provided emergency funds for the provision of emergency materials for thousands of displaced persons in 20 facilities throughout Miyagi prefecture, with special attention being paid to the needs of persons with disabilities and elderly persons.

“Direct Relief responds to emergencies all around the world, including the U.S., and the scale of the tragedy in Japan is immense by any measure,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief International. “These world-class NBA athletes are showing world-class generosity to support people in Japan who need help now and will still need it as the headlines fade. We hope they light up scoreboards this weekend.”
100% of funds received for the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund will be dedicated exclusively to relief and recovery efforts in Japan. Direct Relief’s extensive 63-year history of efficient humanitarian experience is joined with JACL’s extensive network of 112 chapters, including its Japan chapter that is coordinating with a broad scope of Japanese civic and nonprofit organizations and businesses.

Below is a schedule of this weekend’s NBA games and the Wasserman clients that will be donating. Please note those with an asterisk (*) are participating in the $1,000 per point challenge:

Friday, March 25Memphis Grizzlies @ Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose* - Bulls
Brian Scalabrine – Bulls
Xavier Henry - Grizzlies
Marc Gasol* - Grizzlies

Sacramento Kings @ Indiana Pacers
Mike Dunleavy Jr. - Pacers
Tyreke Evans - Kings

Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Ben Wallace – Pistons
Antawn Jamison - Cavaliers

Washington Wizards @ Denver Nuggets
JaVale McGee* - Wizards
Danilo Gallinari – Nuggets

New Orleans Hornets @ Phoenix Suns
Quincy Pondexter - Hornets

Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers
Pau Gasol* - Lakers 
Saturday, March 26 

New Jersey Nets @ Atlanta Hawks
Jason Collins - Hawks
Al Horford* - Hawks
Etan Thomas - Hawks

New York Knicks @ Charlotte Bobcats
DJ Augustin – Bobcats 
Sunday, March 27 

Portland Trail Blazers @ Oklahoma City Thunder LaMarcus Aldridge*-Trailblazers
Jarron Collins - Trailblazers
Russell Westbrook * - Thunder

Sacramento Kings @ Philadelphia 76ers
Jason Kapono – 76ers

Speaker Pérez, Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, Direct Relief International and Japanese American Citizens League Unveil California Aid to Japan

March 24, 2011

Speaker John A. Pérez and the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus joined Direct Relief International and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) to detail the efforts being mobilized by public and private entities in California to help the people of Japan. Representatives from Cost Plus World Market and Amgen were also on hand to announce their financial support. Direct Relief and JACL have established the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund, to be used solely and exclusively for Japan. This collective effort shows that California can pull together fast and efficiently.

The Speaker, Assemblymember Warren Furutani, and the other participants encouraged all Californians to lend a hand during Japan’s time of need. Already the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund includes $1,700,000 in financial support and millions made available in medical supplies with $400,000 having been sent to a local organization in Japan that focuses on helping displaced elderly and disabled persons.

“Japan is clearly experiencing a disaster of epic proportions. As Californians, we have had our share of natural disasters, and we understand how horrific the cost can be—not just in dollars and cents, but in human terms,” said Speaker John A. Pérez. “The people of California stand with the people of Japan in their hour of crisis. We understand intimately what Japan is going through, and the long, difficult road to recovery they must now take.”

"The natural disasters in Japan have taken a devastating toll, not just on the Japanese community, but the worldwide human family," stated Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County). "We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to help our brothers and sisters in Japan. I encourage all Californians to contribute and assist the relief efforts."
“It's so encouraging to see people, businesses, political leaders, civic organizations of all types and communities in California come together in a time of challenges for our own state, to help the people in Japan who are facing unimaginable hardship,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief International, which is utilizing its extensive experience responding to large-scale emergencies, including the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and last year’s earthquake in Haiti.

“We are happy for this opportunity to partner with a superior organization such as Direct Relief, whose record of efficiency is second to none. Many of our collaborative human and civil rights organizations will be supporting this relief effort. We are pleased to provide an avenue for funds that will go directly to help stricken victims of the disaster, many who are friends and family to our membership,” said Floyd Mori, National Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League, the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States.
“Amgen chose to support Direct Relief International because of their proven abilities to partner with local agencies to respond to large-scale relief efforts. Our thoughts remain with the people of Japan, whose strength and resiliency throughout this tragedy have been an inspiration to us all,” said Jean Lim Terra, President, Amgen Foundation. Amgen announced its donation of $500,000 to Direct Relief International.

“Cost Plus World Market has a decades-long history of working with Japanese artisans and companies. It is important for the company to do our part to help those in need. Our hearts and prayers go out to those impacted by this devastating event," said Barry Feld, President and CEO, Cost Plus World Market. Cost Plus World Market will donate 100% of its net proceeds of sales of all products produced in Japan to Direct Relief International, to aid in the relief and humanitarian efforts currently underway in response to the country’s recent earthquake and tsunami.

“I am honored and privileged to have served as Direct Relief's general counsel for the past 5 years. During this time, I have witnessed the collaborative efforts of Direct Relief with different organizations and the impact these partnerships have on their communities. We hope that DRI's partnership with JACL, Amgen and Cost Plus World Market will be able to help those in need in Japan. It is only with the support of my law firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, that my efforts are provided on a pro bono basis,” said Michelle Lee Pickett, General Counsel Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

JACL and Direct Relief Grant $400,000 to Japanese Group for Emergency Humanitarian Efforts

Funds to the Association for Aid and Relief Japan will assist displaced people who are disabled and elderly

March 21, 2011

Direct Relief International and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) today made an initial cash transfer of $400,000 from its jointly established Japan Relief and Recovery Fund to Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan), a 31-year-old leading Japanese nonprofit and nongovernmental organization.

This support will replenish funds that AAR Japan has expended on extensive emergency-relief operations and enable the organization to continue and expand its urgently needed emergency activities, which are focused on persons with disabilities and elderly persons affected by the earthquake, the resulting tsunami, and damage to a nuclear power plant.

AAR Japan responded immediately after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, dispatching emergency teams and providing essential nonfood supplies including diesel, kerosene, water, sanitary products, sleeping bags, and batteries, as well as some food staples, including fruit, rice, milk, and tea.

AAR Japan’s relief efforts are being conducted with approval from all local governments in the affected areas of Miyagi Prefecture and include support to 20 institutions, evacuation camps, and schools that have become temporary shelter for displaced residents.

This initial infusion of cash from the JACL-Direct Relief fund was made possible by thousands of individual donations and a $500,000 grant from Amgen; the amount is 25 percent of the $1.6 million in Japan-designated funds the organization has received since the March 11 quake.

In addition to the emergency cash grants, Direct Relief also has offered medical and personal care inventories available for immediate transport upon approval from the Government of Japan, which has thus far requested private international aid groups defer transporting material aid until needs can be identified and distribution channels cleared.

JACL, in cooperation with Professor Keiko Tanaka from Meiji Gakuin University, are serving to advise, identify, and liaise with Japanese NGOs conducting response activities.

JACL National Executive Director Floyd Mori and Direct Relief’s Chief Program Officer Brett Williams are travelling to Japan this week to conduct additional assessments and meet with Japanese counterpart organizations.

“The intent with this initial donation is to provide immediate, direct assistance to people who suffered an enormous tragedy and are experiencing severe hardship in Japan,” said JACL National Executive Director and CEO Floyd Mori. “Through the JACL network and close coordination with Direct Relief, we are very pleased that these resources will enable AAR Japan to continue its essential work in the affected areas. One of the critical issues to donors is that money donated will directly assist the stricken. In working with Direct Relief we are assured of this,” said Mori.

“We recognize that this emergency caused AAR Japan to tap whatever resources they had to respond fast, and this initial transfer of funds is intended to ensure that they are able to replenish funds and maintain urgently needed activities,” said Direct Relief CEO and President Thomas Tighe. “As Direct Relief has learned from long experience in emergency situations, persons with disabling conditions have even more acute challenges that require specialized attention.  We are pleased to join in this effort and deeply thankful for the generosity that we have witnessed from people and businesses wishing to help.”

Cost Plus World Market Supports Direct Relief’s Efforts in Japan

Between March 23 and September 2011, net proceeds from sales of Japanese products to be donated to Direct Relief

March 18, 2011

In response to the devastating effects of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Cost Plus World Market is supporting Direct Relief’s emergency response efforts by donating all of net proceeds of sales of products from Japan during the next six months. When shoppers purchase such brands as Kikkoman, Ramune, Sapporo, and Kirin from March 23 to the end of September 2011, Cost Plus will donate 100 percent of its net proceeds to Direct Relief. Direct Relief will in turn provide 100 percent of these funds to help the people of Japan.

"Cost Plus World Market has a decades-long history of working with Japanese artisans and companies. It is important for the company to do our part to help those in need,” said Barry Feld, president and CEO, Cost Plus World Market. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those impacted by this devastating event."

Like Direct Relief, Oakland-based Cost Plus World Market was founded in California has a global focus. The company sells home accents, international foods and wines, furniture, and more in its 260 stores across the U.S. and online at worldmarket.com.

Amgen Donates a Generous $500,000 to Direct Relief to Help the People of Japan

March 15, 2011

Longtime corporate supporter Amgen has announced that it is donating $500,000 to Direct Relief International in support of emergency relief efforts in Japan. Amgen and the Amgen Foundation donated funds to help bring basic needs and vital health services to the people affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Amgen selected Direct Relief as a recipient for this generous donation because of the organization’s capacity and experience in responding to large-scale emergencies worldwide.

“Amgen has consistently stepped up to support our work during Direct Relief’s largest response efforts, including the earthquakes in Pakistan and Haiti,” said Brett Williams, Director of International Programs and Emergency Response. “This generous donation will boost our ability to help the people of Japan at this critical time.”

Based in California, Amgen has a long history in Japan with its partnership with Kirin Holdings and pharmaceutical affiliate Kyowa Hakko Kirin that began in 1984, and more recently partnerships with Takeda Pharmaceutical and Daiichi Sankyo.

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures, and delivers innovative human therapeutics, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone disease, and other serious illnesses. Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance science education; improve patient access to quality care; and strengthen the communities where Amgen staff members live and work.

This donation will significantly enhance Direct Relief’s ability to provide critically needed support to the people in Japan in their recovery.

Japanese American Citizens League, Direct Relief International Join Together for Japan Relief and Recovery Effort

Fund will use 100% of contributions for Japan aid

March 15, 2011 

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and Direct Relief International today announced a collaboration to support relief and recovery efforts in Japan – the formation of the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund.

JACL, which was founded in 1929, is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States and also operates one of its 112 chapters in Tokyo.  Direct Relief International, established in 1948, is a privately funded humanitarian organization with decades-long experience in emergency response and humanitarian health assistance worldwide.

100% of funds donated to the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund, which will be managed by Direct Relief International, will be dedicated exclusively to relief and recovery efforts in Japan.

The organizations joined together in the face of a still unfolding crisis in Japan to ensure that contributions to assist Japan are used in the most productive, efficient manner possible.

Floyd Mori, National Executive Director of the JACL, said, “We are happy for this opportunity to partner with a superior organization such as Direct Relief, whose record of efficiency is second to none.  Many of our collaborative human and civil rights organizations will be supporting this relief effort.  We are happy to provide an avenue for funds that will go directly to help stricken victims of the disaster, many who are friends and family to our membership.”

“Direct Relief’s long experience in emergency response and efficient, transparent use of donated funds and JACL’s extensive network both within the United States and in Japan will ensure that resources made available for this crisis are well managed, well spent, and used in the most productive manner possible,” said Direct Relief CEO and President Thomas Tighe.

Direct Relief also today committed an initial $600,000 in cash to the effort and offered $15 million in medical inventory if needed to assist with trauma care and health conditions related to injuries and exposure as hundreds of thousands of people have been dislocated.

Direct Relief’s Director of International Programs and Emergency Response, Brett Williams, is travelling to Japan this week.  Williams has led the organization’s extensive assistance to Haiti, where Direct Relief has been the largest provider of medical material aid (800 tons worth $60 million) since the Haiti quake in January 2010.

Mori and Tighe also issued the following joint statement:

“This is a massive, complex emergency in Japan that we recognize is beyond the capacity of any one organization to address fully, so we believe this initial collaboration between our two longstanding, established organizations makes great sense, and we encourage other people, businesses, and organizations to join together to support people in Japan in this most difficult time.”

To donate online, please go to: dri.convio.net/JapanRelief.

Direct Relief Coordinating Response Efforts with Governmental, Nongovernmental Agencies

Staged materials ready to help as needs are identified

March 12, 2011

Since the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan yesterday, Direct Relief’s emergency response team has been in contact with U.S. government officials in Japan and with the U.S. Navy's Project Handclasp to offer resources and to promote coordination in the relief effort.

Direct Relief works closely with the United Nations (U.N.) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), which has activated to assemble the international response. Direct Relief has mobilized and staged materials at our headquarters, which are standing by ready for airlift to Japan.

OCHA reports that U.N. and government search-and-rescue teams from around the world are on their way to Japan as information about damage from the earthquake and tsunami becomes available. Power and telecommunications outages are making information flows out of the country difficult and impeding assessments of rural areas. As Direct Relief has seen in similar types of emergencies, there is an immediate need for food, water, shelter, and medicine for the people displaced by and injured in the earthquake and tsunami.

According to the Japan Times, the 22 hospitals in 11 prefectures the government designated to treat patients injured in the earthquake and tsunami were full. The Tohoku University Hospital in Sendai has limited capacity to perform surgeries despite having a working generator because its water supply is broken.

Direct Relief continues to monitor the situation to determine the most effective support to Japan.

Direct Relief Partners Outside Japan Report Insignificant Damage from Quake and Tsunami

Emergency response team continues to mobilize resources to help in Japan

March 11, 2011 - 6:30 pm

As information about the extent of destruction in Japan emerged throughout the day, Direct Relief’s partners in other Pacific Rim countries reported insignificant damage and no loss of life, which was a concern as the tsunami traveled across the Pacific.

Because the U.S. West Coast was under a tsunami warning following the earthquake in Japan, Direct Relief coordinated with local, state, and federal officials today as a key member of the emergency network of public and private organizations. Thankfully, the tsunami resulted in only minor damage to West Coast and was largely uneventful.

Regarding Japan, although specifics remain unavailable regarding unmet medical needs, Direct Relief coordinated with healthcare company partners and logistics partners to mobilize resources anticipated to be needed for earthquake-related trauma injuries and tsunami-related waterborne illness and infection.

Direct Relief also offered assistance to the government of Japan via the Japan Consulate in Los Angeles and will continue to coordinate with colleague organizations as the situation unfolds.

Direct Relief Mobilizes in Response to Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

March 11, 2011

Direct Relief International's emergency response team has mobilized in response to the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, approximately 250 miles northeast of Tokyo, today. The organization is reaching out to medical teams ready to respond, as well as partners across the Pacific Rim to offer assistance. According to international news, cars, buildings, and trains were swept away in the tsunami triggered by the earthquake, causing additional widespread damage. The death and injury tolls are being assessed, but are currently numbered in the hundreds.

“We are all concerned for the people of Japan in the wake of this tremendous destruction and stand ready to assist as they recover from this disaster," said President and CEO Thomas Tighe. "Our emergency team is in touch with our government and NGO partners in Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu and is prepared to bolster their efforts in the aftermath of this earthquake. As disaster response experts, our first response is to support the immediate needs of people by working with local health partners best situated to assess, respond, and prepare for the long-term recovery that will be needed."

Direct Relief has extensive experience responding to large-scale emergencies, including the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004, which will inform these response efforts.

The earthquake and its effects are reaching the U.S. as well. According to news reports, coastal communities from central California to Alaska are under a tsunami warning this morning. Direct Relief has long-standing partnerships with emergency response operations and health clinics on the U.S. West Coast, thoughout California, Oregon and Washington. Direct Relief has offered assistance to California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), the National Association of Community Health Centers, and the National Association Free Clinics. Direct Relief is working with those partners and their members to monitor the developments closely.

The organization has equipped trained Medical Reserve Corps volunteers in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties with ruggedized "grab-and-go" packs that enable these medical personnel to treat patients during emergency situations.  

Direct Relief will continue to monitor the situation worldwide to provide assistance as appropriate and needed in support of the recovery effort.