U.S. military helicopters head off to deliver supplies to affected areas, as part of America's "Operation Tomodachi (Friends)" (Photo: U.S. Navy Photo)

In addition, meetings and charity events to support victims were held in Europe and other locations around the world to collect monetary donations.

Japan’s recovery has not only been assisted by the developed world, but has received much warm support from many developing countries as well.

A Japanese aid organization that provides assistance for school lunches in the West African nation of Sierra Leone received a donation of $500 collected by students at local schools. Although the students themselves had a difficult time getting one sufficient meal a day, they sold vegetables and mangos—their own food—to earn money to donate. Donations poured into Japanese embassies and consulates around the world, from many citizens of those countries who took from the income they needed for their own support, with the message that they wanted to help the victims in Japan.

Many of those messages expressed gratitude toward Japan, for assistance they received when they themselves were victims, or for Japan's support for the development of their countries. Cemil Cicek, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey at that time, which sent a rescue team and provided blankets and other goods, said "We share the pain of our friends in Japan, and confident that Japan will be able to heal its wounds in a short time. We are prepared to contribute to that healing in any way possible. We have not forgotten that Japan and the Japanese people extended a hand of support after the earthquake that we suffered in 1999."

In addition, a group of Muslims from a variety of countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East living in Kanagawa Prefecture procured food and relief supplies, found a means of transportation, and made the

Students hold a meeting to express their condolences and sense of solidarity toward the disaster victims (Pakistan)

rounds, particularly focusing on small, isolated evacuation centers in Kesennuma City, Rikuzentakata City, Ofunato City, and the Town of Minamisanriku, cooperating with Japanese volunteers to provide emergency meals of curry for thousands of people eight different times. They spoke of their motivation as follows. "On December 26, 2004, a major earthquake occurred just off the coast of Sumatra. An enormous tsunami struck Sri Lanka, home to some of us, taking the lives of over 50,000 people. The first ones to come and help us at that time were the people of Japan. It was the same when disasters occurred in Pakistan and Indonesia. It was also the people of Japan who constructed schools and hospitals, and built harbors and bridges, in our countries. Seeing the heartbreaking suffering of the Japanese people caused by this great disaster, we discussed what we could do to help. We decided to take hot food to people enduring the cold at evacuation centers. The people of Japan are all our brothers and sisters. Our desire to pay our debt of gratitude and to do something—anything at all—to help the victims of the disaster moved us to action."

A relief team from Sri Lanka provides recovery assistance with the NGO Peace Boat in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Here they present a gift of Sri Lankan tea to affected people.