UPDATE FROM YMCA OF JAPAN ON APPEAL FOR JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
We have received an update from Shigeru Shimada, General Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan:
“We sincerely appreciate encouraging prayers, messages, and contributions from Asia and all around the world for the Kumamoto Earthquake which occurred on April 14th and 16th. Kumamoto YMCA, though itself is hit by the quake, now makes every effort to help people in the affected areas in collaboration with many other local YMCAs in Japan, by sending staffs, experts and youth volunteers, by supporting the prolonged evacuees’ lives, by opening the facilities of YMCA Center for free, and by opening the YMCA volunteer center utilizing its campground.” said Shigeru.
We know that YMCA Japan is planning a fundraising campaign by collecting street donations on May 14th and 15th and we appeal to all other National Movements to continue to support the victims in Japan by responding to the appeal on the World YMCA or by following this link: http://tinyurl.com/jujmjnp
Further updates to follow as they become available.
THE WORLD YMCA HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY ASIA PACIFIC ALLIANCE OF YMCAS (APAY) AND YMCA OF JAPAN TO RAISE A GLOBAL APPEAL FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE SERIAL EARTHQUAKES HAVING DAMAGED THE CITY 0F KUMAMOTO
The YMCA worldwide family is standing in support of the Japan YMCA and all those affected by the earthquake that struck Kumamoto City and its surroundings.
On April 19, Shigeru Shimada, Secretary General of YMCA Japan was reporting:
A powerful earthquake hit magnitude of 6.4 at 9:26 p.m. on April 14 near Kumamoto city. And after 28 hours, the magnitude 7.3 quake hit 01:25 on Saturday South Aso village. The earthquake hit people, buildings, architectures, roads and bridges, and collapsed mountains, banks of rivers, dam and farms. Now more than 100,000 people are forced to stay at the shelters and fear for frequent big quakes… There are 14 YMCA branches in Kumamoto, includes 2 sport centers commissioned by government. YMCA manages big shelters with government at these sport centers. One of shelters is full with more than 1200 evacuees, many of them are elderlies and children. We already provide emergency relief water and foods, sanitary goods from all over Japan…
On May 2nd, Sayuri Ichiki from YMCA Japan has reported:
It was over ‘1100’ times, number of earthquakes occurred in Kumamoto Prefecture, since April 14 till May 2, including that of magnitude 7.3. The quakes resulted in 66 deaths, and 17 of them lost their lives in middle of life as evacuees. While 22000 evacuees are reported, more then 10000 houses are confirmed ‘damaged’ by the serial natural disasters in Kumamoto… YMCA as a whole exert our efforts into a recovery of Kumamoto and its people on a mid-long term basis, giving a special attention to the people suffered by the disaster….
Now we ask you to please support Japan YMCA at this time through this joint appeal of YMCA Japan, Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and the World Alliance of YMCAs. We know that the YMCA family rallies behind each other in these emergencies and we seek your support to help with extra-ordinary after earthquake activities of YMCA in Kumamoto YMCA shelters:
> Care Program for Senior People to remove the fatigue of the aged people forced to live at shelters and to prevent them from potential diseases
> Childcare Program to help children with the stress of prolonged life in the shelters and with the fear of aftershocks and other psychogenic factors
> Starbox Café as comfort-zone run by volunteer Café Corps to ease stress and fatigue of earthquake vistims: Please make your donation:
or to BANK ACCOUNT:
US$D Account
UBS Switzerland AG
Case Postale
1211 Genève 2
IBAN CH78 0024 0240 6177 7510L
Account n° 240-617775.10L
BIC UBSWCHZH80A
We thank you for your solidarity. YMCA always supports those who suffer, who are weak, who need assistance!