2011-03-01
AMDA Emergency Bulletin #3: Earthquake in New Zealand

On 27th February, two more personnel left Japan and joined the AMDA Multi-national Medical Mission in Christchurch on 28th; one medical student from Okayama University, who is a member of Asian Medical Students' Association (AMSA), and a young supporter of AMDA who used to live in Oceania.

Meanwhile, the mission met the mayor of Christchurch on 26th and started to negotiate on the donation of portable water tanks and other aid supplies. On 27th, the two nurses started to look after the families of the missing Japanese who had been attending the language school in the collapsed building. One Samoan surgeon, a contributor to AMDA, joined the mission on 27th through AMDA New Zealand's affiliate primary health organization and has been working with an Austaralian medical relief team since 28th.

The family members, who flew from Japan, are impatiently waiting for the rescue of their loved ones. AMDA nurses are listening to them carefully to understand their needs and giving medical treatment to those who are utterly exhausted. They received a letter from a father of one of the missing nurses who had been studying English at the language school. The letter, which is addressed to the people of New Zealand and Japan engaged in the rescue mission, was posted to this website and has been giving impression to the readers.

According to Reuters, the number of death has reached 154 and more than 200 people are still missing, as of 28th February; More than 2,500 have been injured of which over 160 are in serious condition. The rescue activities have been continued on under the colder weather and rain.

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