Volunteers from Japan and Taiwan deliver 20 tons of supplies

Tzu Chi (the name means “Compassion and Relief”) is an international humanitarian organization, and the largest NGO in the Chinese-speaking world. It has many branches in Asia, some of which are in Japan.

Tzu Chi volunteers from Japan and Taiwan delivered 20 tons of relief goods, including instant rice that can be prepared with hot or cold water, nuts, eco-friendly blankets, cloaks and sweat shirts to 7,000 people in shelters in Iwate prefecture. In Ofunato, a city of 42,000 that was decimated by the disaster, and Rikuzentaka, an area that was similarly affected, 19 volunteers distributed 1073 boxes of goods throughout the 25th and 26th.

(picture from their blog)

Here are some quotes from their blog:

One seven-year-old boy said: “I am terrified of another tsunami, which could take the lives of everyone. Our school has been destroyed and nobody knows the future.” A lady of 71 with tears in her eyes, said that 16 years ago she had put all her savings into her home: “it vanished in an instant and I do not know how I will pass the rest of my days,” she said.

These volunteers “moved the residents to tears”, and are planning to continue providing aid directly to the victims. You can read their blog here and donate to them here.