Dear Friends in the US and around the World,
It has been a month since the three-fold disaster struck Japan. First, a magnitude 9.0-earthquake rocked the north eastern Japan, second, a monstrous tsunami swept away everything in its path, and now, radiation is leaking out of surrounding nuclear power plants. Today, the news reported that Japan raised the nuclear crisis rating to the same as the Chernobyl disaster. In addition, more horror occurred when another earthquake with magnitude 7.1 slammed the same area, claiming eight more lives and injuring more than 1,000 people. The compassion shown by the American people is real, and the people of Japan truly need help!
You can help today by supporting the Volunteer Medics Worldwide (V.M.W.), a non-profit organization that is currently on a one-month rescue mission in Higashi Matsushima and Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture. The V.M.W. is in desperate need of funds as the damage and citizen’s needs are far beyond expectation. Specifically they need to purchase water, food, eye drops, medicine and other basic necessities for the citizens of the affected areas.
The V.M.W staff and volunteers plan to deliver some aid to Minami Soma, Fukushima Prefecture in a couple of days. The town of Minami-Soma is very close to the nuclear reactor, and it still has about 20,000 residents living there. The residents have been told to stay inside their homes because of the radiation. They haven't received much aid since the earthquake struck, and the Japanese government has no definite plan to deliver aid to them. The local government does not have the means to assist the residents with evacuation either. The mayor of this town posted a video on You Tube begging for assistance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ZHQ--cK40).
There is even more help required than is reported. Apparently 30% of the shelters does not have TV or telephone, thus making it impossible to actively ask for assistance. It is also said that some of the major relief organizations are about to end their missions in Japan. That means the work of smaller relief organizations becomes even more critical.
V.M.W. needs your help now. Please consider donating to V.M.W, and please spread the word about their urgent financial need to possible sponsors.
Volunteer Medics Worldwide (volunteermedics.org)
Dr. Gerald S. Flint
Scott Credit Union
Routing No: 281077522
Account [checking] No.: 1200001436879 *VMW is working on establishing a bank account in Japan. We’ll update as applicable.
* VMW ensures that anyone who donates receives a receipt. Inform Carl Sullivan of your contact information and date & amount of donation: masacatranslations@gmail.com.
Direct Contact Info:
EHAT VMW
KONTO LODGE Room 2422 and 2424, Yokota , AB Japan
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Mina S., US Coordinator of V.M.W for EHAT VMW Mission
References:
Email messages from V.M.W., which we received yesterday:
Power back on here but we have BROWN OUTS. NO RUNNING WATER AND WATER IS CONTAMINATED!!!! PEOPLE LINE UP FOR HOURS FOR FRESH WATER!! MOBILE/CELL PHONES ARE OFTEN UNABLE HERE. JASDF IS JUST STARTING TO SCRATCH SUFACE OF MUD, TRASH, CARS and HUMAN REMAINS PICKUP. 7 MORE FOUND IN LAST 24 AT ONO BASE HIGMATS. SOME PRODUCTS BACK ON SHELVES AT SUNKUS AND 7ELEVEN. THE APRIL 7 QUAKE KILLED 8 and left more than 1000 injured. Structures nearby that did not fall in first quake came down.
From VMW staff, on Sunday, April 10, 2011 12:20pm (EST)
Can't believe all this is happening a month from the quake-- nothing much happening with the government yet. They are focused on the reactors.”
From VMW volunteer on Sunday, April 10, 2011 1:16am (EST)
If you haven't watched it yet, see the report from the mayor of Minami Soma (on New York Times website--youtube); he is absolutely correct in his assessment--same situation with towns all along the quake zone. Tell your friends.
From VMW volunteer on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 11:12pm (EST)
Message from Mayor of Minami Soma City on YouTube:
About Volunteer Medics Worldwide:
Volunteer Medics Worldwide is a non-profit organization that is comprised of Emergency Medical Technicians, Doctors, Medics, Pilots, Teachers and Technicians. They have graciously volunteered their time and effort to help those in need worldwide, such as the Heiti earthquake and Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Currently they are on a rescue mission in Fukushima, Japan, one of the areas that was most affected by the great triple tragedy—the monstrous 9.0 earthquake, the tsunami that destroyed everything in its path, and the ongoing problem of nuclear powerplants.
V.M.W has been able to maintain their operation since 1991, by generous donations consisting of medical supplies, medical equipment, monetary donations, frequent flyer miles, pilots flying small aircraft into mission sites around the world and those medical and other professionals willing to donate their time. Visit their website for more information: http://www.volunteermedics.org.
