Written by Marketing Intern Rose Provine
Japan has been faced with a horrific disaster over the past week. An 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan on Friday which triggered a tsunami that followed in a region north of Tokyo. Officials say that at least 10,000 people were killed in this fatal natural disaster and an estimated 200,000 people are living in temporary shelters. There are currently more than one million households in Japan that are without water.
I woke up Friday morning with an abundance of e-mails from friends I had met last year studying abroad in Ireland. While there, I had the opportunity to meet many Japanese students who were studying abroad as well. I became quite close with a few of them, and was immediately worried for my friends and their families. By midday Friday I had confirmation that all four of my Japanese friends were fine. Three of them live in Kyoto, which was not affected. My other Japanese friend was in a job interview when the earthquake began. The building collapsed and she was stuck inside overnight, but was thankfully uninjured.
Even though my friends are okay, there are millions of people who are not. Not only are entire cities destroyed, but thousands of people are left dead and homeless. Furthermore, there have been two nuclear power plant explosions in Fukushima and there is fear of a major radiation leak. More than one million households are without food, water and heat. To make matters worse, the forecast for quake-hit regions in Japan is expected to be rain and snow, with high temperatures to be only 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
Japan is in desperate need of help, and there are many organizations that accept donations to help with emergency relief.
Save the Children helps to save lives with food, medical care and education. They helps communities rebuild through long-term recovery programs when disaster strikes around the world. To donate to assist in Japan's disaster relief, visit https://secure.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6617251/k.7E71/Donate_to_the_Japan_Earthquake_Tsunami_Children_in_Emergency_Fund/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?msource=wellpaqke311, call toll free: 800-728-3843 or text JAPAN or 20222.
The American Red Cross provides domestic disaster relief around the world. Visit http://www.redcross.org/ or text REDCROSS or 90999 to make a $10 donation by text message.
The Salvation Army is a Christian international movement that helps aid countries faced with natural disasters around the world. To make a donation, visit donate.salvationarmyusa.org, call toll free: 800-SAL-ARMY or text QUAKE or 80888 to donate $10.
International Medical Corps "is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs." To make a donation, visit http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/ or text MED or 80888 to donate $10.
Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France. It provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threated by catastrophe. To make a donation, visit http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
Global Giving connects you to the causes and countries you care about. You select what you want to support, make a tax-deductible contribution, and get regular updates so you can see how your gift is making a difference. To make a donation, visit http://www.globalgiving.org/ or text JAPAN or 50555 to donate $10.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization that serves close to 100 million people in nearly 100 countries around the world. They are dedicated to helping children, families and communities worldwide in times of need. To make a donation, visit www.worldvision.org, call toll free: 888-56-CHILD or text 4JAPAN to 20222 to donate $10.
You can make a difference and help Japan in the worst disaster they have faced since World War II. They need our help more than ever, and a donation of any amount will help.
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