Japanese Salvation Army Emergency Relief Teams Swing into Action

The Salvation Army in Japan has three emergency service relief teams operating in areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami that hit the north-east coast of the country last week. One of the teams is assisting people who have been evacuated from areas where there is potential danger because of damage to nuclear power generation stations.

At this time there are no reports of any loss of Salvation Army personnel or damage to corps/church buildings.

Immediately following the earthquake and tsunami an assessment team was sent from Tokyo to Sendai (the city nearest the centre of the earthquake). It took the team 20 hours to travel a journey that usually is accomplished in six hours.

Road and rail systems have been severely affected. There is a shortage of gasoline, with many gas stations closed and queues up to three kilometres long at stations that are open.

The disaster has affected a 2,000 kilometre north-south stretch of Japan. Official reports now state that more than 10,000 people are dead or missing.

Arrangements are being made for emergency service personnel from The Salvation Army International Headquarters (IHQ) to go to Japan to assist with the Army’s relief effort.

Donations
Financial contributions can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by donating online, by texting QUAKE to 45678 from most Canadian carriers, by mailing donations to The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4, or dropping off financial donations at the closest Salvation Army unit in your area. Donors should specify their gift to the Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund.