Tokyo, Japan - Dr. Ron Patterson of Christian Disaster Response conducted a two-day training program March 29 and 30, 2011, for 50 Japanese Youth Ambassadors for Peace who volunteered to help clean up after the March 11 tsunami that hit Japan's east coast.
The 9.0 earthquake and a tsunami devastated the coastal areas of Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures with more than 10,000 dead and more than 16,000 missing. In addition, the crippled nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture led to the evacuation of all residents within a 30-kilometer radius of the plant.
Dr. Patterson arrived in Japan on March 24 to assess the situation and make plans to assist relief efforts. Preparations had already been made before Dr. Patterson and his team of three people conducted a two-day disaster-relief training workshop for volunteers. Leaders of UPF-Japan had already implemented some activities to assist people living in the affected areas by purchasing supplies and sending in seven volunteers plus a doctor and nurse.
Mr. Hideyuki Oshima, Deputy General Manager of the Unification Church of Japan, coordinated the planning and mobilization of volunteers after the training. The training focused on the full disaster cycle of response, recovery, education, and prevention through mitigation and preparation for future disasters. Christian Disaster Response's training program meets all the guidelines set by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration, and 50 young volunteers completed the course. Fifteen were sent out on April 1 to help with recovery.
Dr. Patterson's team left on April 2 to spend four days in northern Japan to conduct further assessment and offer training. [See report.]
Note: For a report about Dr. Patterson and Richard Sapp working together to provide relief in northern Haiti following the earthquake there, click here.