2011-03-15
AMDA Emergency Bulletin #3: Japan Earthquake

Mar. 13th:

Since Mar. 13th, AMDA teams have worked in the local nursing home in Aoba Ward, Sendai City. According to AMDA personnel, lifelines including electricity, water and phone lines have been cut, however, gas supply was still alive hence able to provide meals for the residents. As the food stocks were expected to run out in no time, AMDA donated food supplies on Mar. 14th.

There are about 100 nursing-home residents plus those who evacuated from elsewhere staying in the facility; the facility has 60 staff all together with five of them on rotation, however, more volunteer nurses and carers are in urgent need. AMDA doctors treated those with health problems as there was no full-time doctors stationed in the facility. Beside the treatments for fever and external injuries, various treatments for the elderly such as oral care and phlegm suctioning, gastrostoma and drips (infusion of intravenous fluids) were conducted.

Additional dispatch of relief personnel:

Meanwhile, AMDA's additional relief personnel have started to reach the disaster site. The details are as follows:

-Mar. 13th: the fourth team (one coordinator, two doctors)

-Mar 14th: the fifth team (two coordinators, two surgeons, one nurse and two medical students)

Mar. 14th:

On Mar. 14th AMDA personnel delivered mobile clinic services in three teams at the local elementary schools used as evacuation shelters in Aoba Ward, Sendai City. The number of evacuees have been decreasing in the ward as they have made their way home due to the recovery of electricity. However, the situation in Miyagino Ward seems to be severe; there are still approximately 600 to 1,600 people evacuated at the local elementary schools where, in many places, lifelines such as water, electricity, gas have not yet recovered. It is also reported that most of the evacuees in some of the camps have lost their homes.

At AMDA Headquarters in Okayama, western Japan, relief goods were loaded onto three vehicles and left for Sendai on Mar. 14th. The aid supplies include water, instant foods, rice, diapers (for children and adults), sanitary napkins, sleeping bags and vitamins supplements. The vehicles and some of the goods were donated by courtesy of the local private sectors. They are scheduled to reach AMDA team in Aoba Ward, Sendai City in the early morning of Tuesday 15th.

As of now, the shortages of food and gas supplies have gotten serious in the area.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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