Peace Winds Japan
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Photo credits:
PWJ, The Mainichi Newspapers,
Japan International Cooperation Agency

Special appreciation to volunteer translators:
Noriko Inaba, Natsuko Tokai, Mike Nix

Message from the Chairperson
The Role of NGOs
Iraq
Mongolia
Indonesia
East Timor
Sierra Leone
Afghanistan
Iran
Activities in Japan
Major Activities in FY2003
Organizational Time Line
Organizational Structure
Financial Statement for FY2003

PWJ English Top
Islamic Republic of Iran

On December 26, 2003, an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck Kerman province in southeastern Iran. The number of victims, initially said to be a few thousand, gradually increased, and according to the January 17th announcement by the Iranian government, approximately 41,000 were killed and 30,000 were injured, with over 70,000 losing their homes. PWJ decided to implement emergency relief for this massive disaster on the day it occurred, dispatching its first team to Iran the following day. Reports from this team urged immediate action to support people who were seeking refuge on the roadside amid harsh winter weather.

Simultaneous with the dispatch of its emergency relief team, PWJ's Tokyo headquarters, in collaboration with other NGOs in the field, procured supplies such as blankets, mineral water and heater-stoves. Furthermore, 500 tents were obtained and transported by air from Pakistan as emergency shelter. These tents were set up to form a " tent village" on December 31, five days after the earthquake. After the distribution of supplies within the tent village, daily commodities were provided to victims in the heavily devastated areas of the city. Based on assessment reports conducted by female staff in the area, sanitary materials and underwear were supplied, as part of meticulous support for women victims of the earthquake.

By late January, attempts began to overcome the catastrophe and rebuild what was lost. PWJ offered prefab schoolhouses in order to help restart schooling. Of the seven schools scheduled to be set up, one was completed by end of January. Also, with approximately 85% of
buildings in the area destroyed, the importance of rebuilding houses with safer anti-quake structures was recognized. Therefore, in addition to providing temporary schoolhouses, PWJ's activity plans for 2004 include the holding of a workshop on anti-earthquake measures, targeted at local people involved in construction.

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