The earthquake that rocked the Japanese Tohoku region last Friday, the country’s biggest on record, triggering tsunami waves as high as 10 metres caused massive destruction and loss of human lives in vast areas along the Pacific coast of eastern Japan. The natural calamity shows how thousands of people can suddenly find themselves totally at the mercy of nature and in need of international aid
Lasting about two minutes, the earthquake rattled buildings in greater Tokyo, the world’s largest urban area and home to about 30 million people, and was felt even in Beijing, some 2,500 kilometres away. It caused scattered fires and destruction across certain areas, although there was no widespread damage in major cities. The tsunami was devastating and caused extensive damage in coastal areas along the Pacific coast of northeastern Honshu.
The latest estimates speak of about 10,000 people dead or missing and over 200,000 others being directed to emergency shelters in the east and north of the country. Moreover, tens of thousands of other residents have been evacuated from an area near two nuclear plants in Fukushima province, about 150 miles north of Tokyo, as attempts are being made to reduce the pressure in two reactors amid fears of serious consequences after radioactive material was detected outside and a massive explosion occurred in one of them.
A relief mission of unprecedented proportions began, with experienced disaster response teams from across the world making offers of assistance to the Japanese government. As one of the most urgent needs was digging people out from under crushed buildings, about 60 search-and-rescue teams from 45 counties put themselves on alert, ready to help Japan if there are required. Even the Chinese government, often at odds with Tokyo, offered support to Japan in the wake of the disaster.
Japan started by accepting a United Nations offer to send four search and rescue teams from the United States, New Zealand, Australia and the Republic of Korea. Other forms of aid related to basic human needs are on their way to Japan from various countries.
The Japanese archipelago is located in an area where several continental and oceanic plates meet. This is the cause of frequent earthquakes and the presence of many volcanoes and hot springs across Japan. Indeed, many parts of the country have experienced devastating earthquakes and tidal waves in the past. Preparedness, therefore, is a top priority in the country. It has, in fact, one of the best government disaster-response agencies in the world, with long experience in recovery from earthquakes. Its capacity is highly developed and sophisticated.
Nonetheless, considering the dimension of the latest disaster, as has been seen through the astonishing and heartbreaking images of widespread destruction and flooding coming from Japan, this time round even Japan had to resort to international help. Such is the force of nature!
Experts think the country would probably not need the kind of massive support that poor countries such as Haiti require after a big crisis. It is, of course, still too early to be sure but one must be prepared for the worst.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said “the UN stands by the people of Japan and we will do anything and everything we can at this very difficult time”. His declaration deserves the support of all those who uphold human solidarity even in this side of the world, already perturbed as it is by the human tragedy unfolding in the Arab World, especially Libya.