World Vision Australia ceased calling for donations to the Japan Disaster Appeal in early April 2011. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters in response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. We thank our supporters for their amazing response to this humanitarian disaster.

World Vision globally raised the funds required to implement a 90 day relief response and a subsequent rehabilitation program for communities in the most severely affected areas in north-east Japan.  In the first 90 days, approximately 83,000 people were supported in evacuation centres by cleaning of the centres and the creation of community kitchens.  People were also assisted through the distribution of relief items and the provision of psycho-social support for children and the elderly.

For details on World Vision’s response during the first year, see our updates posted below.

If you would like to support World Vision Australia to prepare for other emergencies around the world, please make a donation to our Emergency & Preparedness Fund. This enables World Vision to pre-stock and position life-saving supplies, and ensures trained staff can be on the scene quickly when emergencies occur in developing countries.

World Vision's response

Within 48 hours of the disaster, World Vision deployed a rapid assessment team to the most affected areas of Miyagi and Iwate.  World Vision provided relief items, established community kitchens for evacuation centres, and ensured children had a fun, safe and educational place to be during the early stages of the emergency response.

During the rehabilitation phase of our response, World Vision continues its focus on children’s development and protection, and has been working on livelihood recovery in the fishing industry, community development projects with a focus on senior citizens, child-focused disaster preparedness, and assistance to evacuees from the Fukushima area.

Background information

When a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit off the north-east coast of Japan on Friday 11 March, 2011, a tsunami some 40 metres high was triggered.  Within minutes of the earthquake, giant waves spread across the Pacific Ocean, causing panic in neighbouring countries.

Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific but were later lifted for some of the most populated countries in the region, including Australia, Taiwan and New Zealand.  What followed captured the world’s attention, as images of the waves were beamed around the globe.  Whole towns along Japan’s north-east coast were washed away.

Japan, a nation used to earthquake drills, sprung to action and followed emergency procedures.  More than 15,000 people were killed, 300,000 were evacuated and 3,300 people are still unaccounted for.  A nuclear emergency was triggered in the Fukushima prefecture.

Roads and rail, power and ports were crippled across much of Japan's north-east.  The World Bank's estimated economic cost was US$235 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster in world history.

Rescue workers combed the tsunami-battered region for survivors and struggled to care for millions of people without power and water in what, the Prime Minister at the time, Naoto Kan, called his country's worst crisis since World War II.

The big fear at the Fukushima nuclear complex, 240 kilometres north of Tokyo, was of a major radiation leak. The complex saw explosions at three of its reactors, which sparked fires and sent plumes of smoke billowing above the plant.  Eventually, communities within a 20 kilometre radius of Fukushima Power Plant #1 and within 10 kilometres of Plant #2 were evacuated from the area.

Children sponsored by Australians

There are no sponsorship programs in Japan.

How you can help:

Find out more about our Emergency & Preparedness Fund or donate now.