In a reflection on the situation in Japan by Church World Service Asia/Pacific Emergency Response Director Takeshi Komino, he describes how the situation is understood by those making the decisions and those living the realities in the villages. The opening paragraph is a sobering reminder that human-made security is never absolute.
“Is this really happening in my country of Japan?” was my initial thought. Japan is considered one of the richest nations in the world with probably the best disaster risk reduction measures in the region. And this was certainly my first time responding to an emergency in Japan as a staff member of CWS. As the extent of damage became clearer, I learned that this is actually four disasters happening at once. First a 9.0 Richter scale earthquake, then 20m+ tsunami, then nuclear power plant reactor explosion, all happening in the harsh winter weather of Tohoku region where temperatures nowadays go down below freezing point on daily basis. Can my government respond adequately? The answer, unfortunately, is no.
He goes on later to share about how volunteers are stepping up to help fill the gaps and meet the needs of those affected by this disaster. In the coming days please pray for those in leadership that they may be guided by a spirit of justice and led to decisions of equity. Pray also for these volunteers as they give of time and talent to serve the neighbor.
Read his full report: Takeshi Reflection On Japan (pdf).
————-
Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response allow the church to respond globally in times of need. Donate now.
