Response to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

As we ring in the New Year, we spend time reviewing what has been done in 2012. Because of you, we at Mercy Corps were able to do some real life-changing work this year!

You are the reason Mercy Corps has expanded our small business program that has already created over 500 jobs in Japan to another area affected by the tsunami. Mercy Corps and our partner PlaNet Finance Japan are working with another bank, Abukuma Shinkin Bank, in the town of Minamisoma to offer reemployment and startup grants and loan interest payments for small businesses. Minamisoma not only experienced the force of the earthquake and tsunami, but it is only 20-30 kilometers from the Fukushima nuclear power plant and half of the city is inside the evacuation zone. Of the surviving population, many have left because of concerns about exposure to radiation. The triple disasters had a devastating effect on businesses and recovery in Minamisoma has been much slower than other tsunami-affected cities. In this difficult environment, because of you, there are signs of recovery and interest in restarting businesses. Thank you.

We like to see the people our supporters like you have impacted, and I bet you do too. Over 17,000 photos were collected from around the world this year and we would like to share some of them with you!

Check out our slide show of the ten best images from 2012 from our worldwide programs and witness photos of:

• Mercy Corps training women to mediate land conflict in Guatemala.
• Wiam, a seven-year-old girl living with just a suitcase and a cardboard box of belongings in the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan.
• Thirteen-year-old Donatien playing a traditional game. He and his family fled to this new village during attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army in the Central African Republic.
• Jhon, during his training as a mechanical engineer in our rehabilitation program in Colombia. Jhon escaped life as a child soldier with the FARC militants.

And many others!

These images capture the resilient and strong-willed spirit of those we work with just like those in Japan, but there is still so much to be done.

As you consider your end-of-year giving, I encourage you to donate to a Mercy Corps project through Global Giving. Continue to support this one or pick a different project to make a lifesaving difference for families in need:

• Help Mercy Corps Turn Crisis Into Opportunity
• Saving Lives in Niger, Mali & Sahel in West Africa
• Relief and Recovery for Haiti Disaster Survivors of Hurricane Sandy and previous disasters
• Food Crisis Hits Horn of Africa
• Breast Feeding in Indonesia Saves Lives

With you, in 2013, we will continue to make it a brighter, healthier year for families in the world’s most desperate places. With your support, we can make it happen - together!

In gratitude,

Carlene Deits

Links:

• Mercy Corps' Top 10 Photos of 2012 Slideshow

Links:

• Mercy Corps' 2012 Accomplisments
• Small business owners jumpstart Japanese communities