Activity Report on Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (4)
Report—NGO Collaboration Center
‘Vegetable Supporters’ Activities Monthly Report of April (The NGO Collaboration Center for Hanshin Quake Rehabilitation)
The NGO Collaboration Center in Hyogo has been purchasing agricultural products from farmers in the areas affected by the eruption of Mount Shinmoe in Miyazaki prefecture (in the western part of Japan), and using them to support the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The vegetables from Miyazaki are used for soup-runs at shelters, evacuees cook meals themselves using them at shelters, or they are delivered to victims at their homes. Now that it is spring, we can deliver fresh and juicy produce like tomatoes and strawberries as well. Some farmers also do stock-farming so we are supplying not only vegetables but also meat and eggs, as well as juice and sweets made from their produce allowing us to try to meet various demands. Since days at shelters are long, it is important to eat nutritious food. The affected areas do not have a sufficient supply of fresh vegetables or protein-rich meat, therefore, our food deliveries are needed and appreciated by the people in these areas of East Japan.
In Miyazaki, on the other hand, neutralization of soil that has been acidified by volcanic ash has been costly. We can help farmers in Miyazaki make money for the neutralization by purchasing their vegetables through this project. As of April 26th three months passed since the full-scale eruption of Mount Shinmoe, but the situation is still unstable and insecure in the affected area. The eruption on April 18th blew volcanic rocks which broke solar panels on roofs and car windows in Takaharu-cho. In Miyakonojo city, on April 27th the possibility of a mudslide increased due to heavy rainfall an evacuation advisory was issued for the first time in 69 days but it was cancelled later that day. We are going to give support to the people in Miyazaki and are paying close attention to the situation.
Below is a summary of shipments of agricultural and livestock products from Miyazaki to East Japan in April.
Regular Shipments
●Tono city in Iwate prefecture: Tono Magokoro Network (shipped on alternate days from April 6th)
●Ofunato city in Iwate prefecture: Sansan No Kai (shipped weekly since April 30th)
●Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture: Japan International Food for the Hungry (shipped almost every day since April 6th)
●Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture: NPO Fair Trade Tohoku (shipped on April 21st , and on alternate days since April 29th)
●Yonezawa city in Yamagata prefecture: Seikatsu Club Yamagata Co-op (shipped every few days since April 16th)
●Iwaki city in Fukushima prefecture: Medical/welfare-related NPO (shipped weekly since April 13th)
●Koriyama city in Fukushima prefecture: NPO Heart-Net Fukushima (shipped every few days since April 16th)
In addition to the regular shipments above, we sent shipments to the following places.
●Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture: NGO JEN (shipped on April 21st and 30th)
●Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture: NPO Spo-Art Support KANSAI (shipped on April 23rd)
●Asahi city in Chiba prefecture: Victim support cooperator (shipped on April 21st)
The NGO Collaboration Center for Hanshin Quake Rehabilitation TEL: +81-(0)78-574-0701 E-mail:ngo@pure.ne.jp http://tohoku-pacific-eq.seesaa.net/ 5/11/2011