Tsunami

By Francis Markus in Japan

Gazing across the sandy expanse of the playground, the buildings of the middle school have a forlorn look and give the impression of being completely deserted – until through the window of one faraway building, we catch sight of a few human figures moving about.

“The students in there are just finishing their lunch,” explains the principal, Toshihiko Takahama, from his office at the front of the building. They seem a very small group. “Before the disaster, we had 60 students, but only 14 have come back so far,” Mr Takahama says.

Medtronic Foundation Grant Will Enable HOPE to Bring Long-term Stability and Care

MIllwood, Virginia, May 16, 2012

Medtronic Foundation and Project HOPE today announced a partnership to rebuild the Yamada General Hospital in Japan’s northern coastal town of Yamada one year after it was submerged underwater in the earthquake-triggered tsunami that destroyed the hospital and killed hundreds of people in the town.

By Francis Markus in Japan

Authorities in Fukushima Prefecture have recently reclassified parts of the restricted zone around the nuclear plant to lift a ban on those areas where radiation levels are recorded at 20 millisieverts per year or less.

Among the three communities where residents have been allowed back to their homes, is Kawauchi village. With only 500 out of 3,000 inhabitants returning, the problems that Kawauchi faces in trying to revive itself may point to more general issues ahead.

By Rob Tranter, First Assistant Director General, Pacific Division, AusAID

Two and a half years ago in September 2009, the Tavana family from Saleaumua village in Samoa saw their entire life swept away by one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the small Pacific nation.

I remember being at the Crisis Centre in Canberra as news of an earthquake that had just struck off the coast of Samoa came flooding in. The 8.3 magnitude quake triggered a huge tsunami that ripped through the southern Samoan island of Upolu.

NATORI, PRÉFECTURE DE MIYAGI - Les contributions du gouvernement du Canada et de la province de la Colombie-Britannique au Projet de reconstruction de Tohoku soutiendront la remise en état du marché public de la ville de Yuriage, ce qui constitue une mesure importante pour aider l'agriculture et les pêches locales.

PHUKET, 10 May 2012 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is holding a tsunami alert and response exercise in Phuket province during May 10-11 in order to ready local authorities and residents for possible giant waves in six provinces along the Andaman Coast.

05/08/2012 21:43 GMT

MEXICO CITY, May 8, 2012 (AFP) - The Mexican government on Tuesday launched a national tsunami system to monitor quakes around the world that could impact the country's coastline, the Interior Ministry said.

The system's aim will be to "monitor and alert the occurrence of tsunamis generated anywhere in the world that could affect national territory," the ministry said in a statement.

Baltimore, May 4, 2012 — Safe housing for all is a complex problem throughout the world, but especially so after a disaster. With complementary missions and a similar approach to relief and development work, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), are coordinating to ensure that affected families receive the best assistance possible.