By Kelli Maddock | Resource Development Officer
On October 12, 2019, Typhoon Hagibis struck the Pacific coast of Japan. Up to 25 million people were affected by the storm and more than 4,000 people were initially evacuated to over 120 shelters. Overall, the deadly storm damaged infrastructure, caused power outages and disrupted water services in 12 prefectures across Japan, and also left 27,400 hectares of flooded areas. In response to the storm, International Medical Corps partnered with the Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan) to help communities recover and rebuild.
Together, our teams are helping children with disabilities access facilities to learn social skills through play after school and during special events, such as seasonal activities and weekend field trips. We are supporting intergenerational programming to give their caregivers extra time to provide for their families. Intergenerational programs provide a space for different generations to come together, share experiences, accomplish mutually beneficial goals and foster relationships. AAR Japan uses intergenerational programming to give the children an opportunity for hands-on experience and celebrate the traditional ceremonies, which are hosted by the elders.
Following the impact of Typhoon Hagibis, the vehicles used to facilitate these critical services were damaged beyond use. Yuga, a fourth grader explained his experience to us, “I was scared and worried during the typhoon because there was lots of rain and strong winds.” The staff at the facility told International Medical Corps that they noticed many of the children were more cautious and anxious after the typhoon — some were too frightened to even go outside of their homes.
With the help of a generous donors like you, International Medical Corps is supporting transportation for the children to continue to receive essential services, despite the damage from Typhoon Hagibis.
With transportation supported by International Medical Corps, Yuga’s daily routine can begin to return to normal — “I am looking forward to new events,” he says!
Together with our partners, International Medical Corps is helping children with disabilities access intergenerational care and cultural lessons. We thank the GlobalGiving community for helping our team provide care after disasters like Typhoon Hagibis.
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