Message to INGO's from Japanese NGO Counterparts

TO:  HPPC – PACIFIC RIM

InterAction has been in regular contact with our sister NGO consortium, JANIC, since the early days of the disaster response.  JANIC and Japan Platform (JPF) have sent us the following message for dissemination to member NGOs, requesting that INGOs hold off on sending large numbers of staff for the moment and detailing how best to work with local authorities once the situation is more clear.  They have also provided contact information for the Prefecture Disaster Volunteer Centers in the affected prefectures, as well as contact information for Japan Platform in Tokyo, which is working with JANIC on NGO coordination issues.  If your organization already has field staff in Japan, please ensure that they receive this message. 

JPF & JANIC

Appeal to International NGOs for Disaster-related Activities in East Japan

21 March 2011

We would like to appeal the following points to those International NGOs, which are already in Japan or planning to come soon. The points are based on the present situation in Japan, including some unchanging & peculiar ones, and some changeable ones reflecting the ongoing situation. 

１）Currently we are observing an unusually prolonged emergency & semi-emergency period due to fuel shortage in the first 10 days, the scale of damage & affected areas, and radiation levels in Fukushima. A large number of people from Fukushima have experienced repeated evacuations and are still moving to other Prefectures including Tokyo.

2）In Japan, humanitarian & welfare activities are largely coordinated by the Prefectural Social Welfare Councils (SWC), as well as Municipality SWCs at city/ward/town/village. After a large disaster, a local SWC is supposed to establish a Disaster Volunteer Center (DVC) at Prefecture and Municipality levels. At present, Pref. DVCs in Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaragi and Chiba have been established, while many city/ward/town/village SWCs could not, due to their multilayer damages. Under this situation, a large number of individual volunteers are still requested to wait. Some Japanese NGOs, which are well organized and self-supporting (food, accommodation, communication etc.), have started their activities.

Foreign NGOs, which are requested to wait for the time being, are strongly advised to inform and consult with a Pref. DVC prior to the commencement of its activities (in Japanese language Please!!). The Pref. DVC may advise the NGO about needs, local DVCs etc..

During the operation, please do keep in close contact with municipality DVCs, and do inform the same DVCs about the end of the operation well ahead of time, so that someone else may take over it smoothly.

    Tel. & Fax Numbers & E-Mail Addresses of Prefecture Disaster Volunteer Centers

３）Many SWCs/DVCs are still struggling to set up and sustain their activities. NGOs should realize the importance and present situation of local DVCs, and are advised to support them in many ways, as some of them have lost many basic resources.

4）We observe that more NGOs and relief materials are in Miyagi Pref. than in Iwate Pref., Fukushima Pref., and other Prefectures. There is a general tendency to avoid Fukushima Pref. due to fear of nuclear radiation, where many people are struggling hard to help the victims.

5）A small number of foreign NGO’s staff members is recommended, as a huge number of individual volunteers working in affected areas will be soon available in Japan.

For further contact: Japan Platform(JPF), Otemachi Bldg, 266, 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004  Japan, TEL:03-5223-8891 FAX:03-3240-6090,

Mail: ***@***.***,  URL: http://www.japanplatform.org/E/index.html