EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE UPDATE

August 2016

On April 14, 2016 a powerful magnitude
6.2 earthquake hit Kumamoto
Prefecture of Japan. Just 48 hours
later, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake
struck. More than 1,700 aftershocks hit
in the weeks that followed.

49

CASUALTIES

1,400
INJURIES

145,000

BUILDINGS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED

181,000

PEOPLE EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMESStrait

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS
Emergency Response in Japan

Seto Inland
Sea

Earthquake Epicenter

Fukuoka

International Medical Corps
Operating Prefecture

SagaOita

PrefectureApril 14

April 16

Nagasaki

KumamotoMiyazaki

East China
Sea

KagoshimaJAPANPhilippin
SeaOur teams deployed from Tokyo and arrived within hours of the second
earthquake, reaching the epicenter in Kumamoto. We have been partneringwith the government and local authorities to provide surge capacity and fill
identified gaps to support their response. Over the last three months, teams
have reached approximately 2,500 people forced from theirhomes into more than 20 evacuation centers across the affected areas.

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE
As evacuation centers became overcrowded, hygiene systems were strained. To help
keep families healthy and prevent the spread of disease, International Medical Corps
partnered with the Government of Japan to increase hygiene and sanitation capacity.

722

people received
individual hygiene kits
containing soap,
toothbrushes, andtoothpaste to help stayhealthy and stop thespread of disease500

people benefitted
from the provisionof 10 latrines,
ensuring additional
sanitary care

CARE AND RELIEF FOR OLDER POPULATIONS
Many older people whose homes had been destroyed stayed behinddue to limited mobility and additional care needs. In response, ourteams delivered relief supplies and provided physical andoccupational therapy.

1,278

people reached with 5,561 reliefmaterials including clothing, bedding,water supplies, lights, and more201

evacuees provided with occupational
and physical therapy to support
rehabilitative care“We never expected this to happen,” said Reiko, 81. “There areno symptoms that tell us that an earthquake is coming.” Reiko is
one of the thousands whose home was destroyed or damaged
in the quake. She stays with her husband at Kinofura
Elementary School, unsure when or if they can return home.

ROTATING HEALTH SUPPORT TEAMS

To support evacuees’ mental and physical well-being, ourteams worked with 9 physical or occupational therapists, 3
psychosocial support professionals, and 8 nurses to serve
evacuees with limited access to care. With 10 doctors fromKumamoto City Hospital, we ensured quality service delivery.
We also provided 78 temporary bed frames and 420
mattresses in an effort to make the evacuees’ time in limbo
more comfortable.

BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY:PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID

To support recovery efforts andprovide care for those affected,
International Medical Corps
provided psychological first aid
training for 15 local staff
members who have regularcontact with survivors, both inperson and via phonecounselling services.
Providing psychological first aid training is acore aspect of International Medical Corps’
approach to psychosocial support in an
emergency, helping strengthen positive
coping strategies and build local capacity.
An International Medical Corps teammember dons a costume to cheer up
children in an evacuation centerYukie, 88, says, “I didn’t expect such ahuge earthquake. I evacuated into thecar, which belongs to my neighbor. I
was so scared and couldn’t sleep bymyself. I spent the night in the car.
Then, the second one happened [twodays later]. It was beyond imagination. I
cannot go back to my house,” she said.
“I have no place to stay. I would like tomove into a temporary house, but I
don’t know when it will be ready.”As individuals continue to recover from the effects of the quakes, our teams areworking with local partner, Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center, to provide:
Emergency shelter
support to improveliving conditions

Food distribution
for evacuees

Relief services toindividuals whoremain displacedINTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS RESPONSE

IN THE MEDIA

THANK YOU TOOUR SUPPORTERS
and the hundreds of generous individuals,
foundations and corporations

With your support, we reachedapproximately 2,500 people with relief
and recovery services following theearthquakes in Japan. Thank you foryour continued support as we work toassist those in urgent need anywhere,anytime, no matter what the conditions.

International Medical Corps ISH, the Japaneseaffiliate of International Medical Corps, has beenworking in support of the Government of Japanand local partner organizations since its
founding in 2011 after the devastating magnitude
9.0 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS HEADQUARTERS
12400 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1500 • Los Angeles, CA 90025
PHONE: 310-826-7800 • FAX: 310-442-6622
DC OFFICE
1313 L St. NW, Suite 220 • Washington, DC 20005
PHONE: 202-828-5155 • FAX: 202-828-5156