A 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan early morning on March 11, 2011. It was one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history – causing massive destruction, a deadly tsunami across the Pacific Rim, and nuclear radiation.
The Japan Committee for UNICEF has set up child friendly spaces in Japan - safe areas for children who have had traumatic experiences during and after the earthquake. UNICEF is also working with local governments on a ‘Back-to-School’ programme and has mobilized its partners to provide emergency supplies.
“Children should be able to enjoy their childhood and go to school,” said Ken Hayami, Executive Director of the Japan Committee for UNICEF. “We are doing all we can here to realize the children’s rights.”
While UNICEF Canada is not accepting donations specifically for Japanese earthquake relief at this time, you can support our general emergency relief fund by making a donation online, calling 1-800-567-4483 or texting the word GIVE to 45678* on your mobile device. The general emergency fund enables UNICEF to deploy emergency supplies and teams immediately following a disaster.
Children are the most vulnerable during a crisis and must be at the centre of an emergency response. We are dedicated to providing life-saving assistance to children affected by disaster and protecting their rights, no matter how difficult.
