20
Dec 2019

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Planning a Year-end Clean-up? Donate Your Unwanted Items and Support the People in Need

Did you know that there is a way to clean up your house and make a donation at the same time? Otakara Aid and Value Books offer a service to pick up your unwanted items and donate their cash value to the Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV). If you have any unwanted items in the list below, simply pack them up and send them to the designated addresses. They will be evaluated, and the value of the goods will be donated to the PBV. Your donation will be used to support relief activities carried out by PBV. Items that can be donated: Otakara Aid (お宝エイド) :Postal stamps, post cards (unused/unposted […]

13
Dec 2019

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Typhoon Hagibis Situation Update: Relief activities in Iwaki

It has been two months since the occurrence of a large-scale destruction caused by Typhoon Hagibis (No. 19). Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) has been carrying out relief projects in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture for nearly 60 days. As time passes, more accurate details of the damage have been unveiled. According to a recent assessment, the number of houses damaged by the storm reaches over 9000 in Iwaki city alone. The media coverage on the disaster is surprisingly low, considering that it is one of the worst disasters in Japan since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. While so little is mentioned in national news, local people’s struggle for recovery […]

03
Dec 2019

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It’s Giving Tuesday! 

This year, once again, many parts of Japan have experienced disasters, especially flooding and storms, resulting in large-scale destruction. This year, the Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) has carried out emergency relief projects across Japan, including Saga Prefecture (heavy rains in July), Chiba Prefecture (Typhoons 15 and 19) and Fukushima Prefecture (Typhoon 19 and heavy rains caused by Typhoon 21), and we are also engaged in a relief project in Mozambique to support those affected by Cyclone Idai. If you are considering making a contribution to a charity this holiday season, supporting those affected by such disasters through the PBV may be a great option to leverage your contribution. Your […]

19
Nov 2019

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Call for volunteers and donations! Typhoon Relief 2019

The Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) has been carrying out relief projects in Chiba Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture, both of which are affected by Typhoons Faxai (No. 15) and Hagibis (No.19). The typhoons occurring in September and October, caused severe damage to buildings, public facilities, infrastructure and livelihood. PBV teams are working closely with local authorities, NGOs, disaster relief networks, and organizations in the affected regions to provide much needed support to local residents. In southern Chiba, thousands of houses sustained roof damage in the powerful winds of the typhoons. PBV has dispatched experienced and skilled volunteers to cover the damaged roofs with tarps for temporary protection. This work has […]

06
Sep 2019

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CALL FOR DONATIONS: Heavy rains in Northern Kyushu 2019

The northern part of Kyushu has been experiencing severe heavy rain since August 28, 2019, with particular damage in Fukuoka, Saga, Oita Prefectures. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a warning, and evacuation orders were made for approximately 880,000 people in these three prefectures. There have been rivers overflowing in various locations, and as of August 29 the Cabinet Office has announced that there was inundation above floor level in 82 buildings, and below in 318. The overall extent of the damage is as yet unknown, and it is anticipated that it may expand further. The Peace Boat Disaster Volunteer Center (PBV) dispatched staff members to the affected areas on August […]

20
Apr 2019

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Emergency Relief Fund for Cyclone Idai, Mozambique

Cyclone Idai struck southern Africa in mid-March, causing devastation across Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Despite little international news coverage, the United Nations has described it as “one of the deadliest storms on record in the southern hemisphere”. To date, the disaster has claimed over 1,000 lives and affected more than 3 million people across the region. Tens of thousands of people are displaced and staying in temporary camps, and over 300,000 homes were destroyed. Furthermore, the destruction of critical infrastructure and other impacts have led to the spreading of illnesses such as cholera and malaria. Emergency humanitarian support for survivors is now an urgent task. In response to this crisis, PBV has […]

29
Mar 2019

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[Western Japan Flooding] Interim Project Report: Flood Relief Efforts in Western Japan

In response to the disasters caused by the torrential rains and flooding in widespread areas of Western Japan in early July 2018, the Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center has been working to support the locals in Mabicho and surrounding areas. The relief effort started with a damage assessment by the dispatched expert staff members to identify the needs of the local residents, then moved to diverse support activities, ranging from hot meal distribution, assistance in evacuation center management, house cleaning, support for the operation of the volunteer center, community rebuilding and photo-cleaning. Hundreds of volunteers joined the PBV from all over Japan and overseas, relaying a baton of willingness […]

10
Mar 2019

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[Western Japan Flooding] Meet the PBV Volunteers! Introducing Harshil

The Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center has been working in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, to provide support to the local residents affected by the flooding last July. For the last seven months, in Kurashiki, over 400 volunteers hav e participated and offered a helping hand in a wide range of relief efforts with PBV, from hot meal distribution and evacuation shelter operation at the earlier phase after the disaster to house cleaning, community building, and, more recently, photo-cleaning. As part of a series, we would like to introduce some of the volunteers who joined our team in Kurashiki recently. Today, we are introducing Harshil from New Zealand. ———– With extra days […]

01
Mar 2019

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[Western Japan Flooding] Meet the PBV Volunteers! Introducing Michael

The Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center has been working in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, to provide support to the local residents affected by the flooding last July. For the last seven months, in Kurashiki, over 400 volunteers have participated and offered a helping hand in a wide range of relief efforts with PBV, from hot meal distribution and evacuation shelter operation at the earlier phase after the disaster to house cleaning, community building, and, more recently, photo-cleaning. This week, as part of a series, we would like to introduce some of the volunteers who joined our team in Kurashiki recently. Today, we are introducing Michael from Italy. ———– When we […]

26
Feb 2019

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[Western Japan Flooding] Meet the PBV Volunteers! Introducing James

The Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center has been working in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, to provide support to the local residents affected by the flooding last July. For the last seven months, in Kurashiki, over 400 volunteers have participated and offered a helping hand in a wide range of relief efforts, from hot meal distribution and evacuation shelter operation at the earlier phase after the disaster to house cleaning, community building, and, more recently, photo-cleaning. At the PBV, we respect and value the importance of diversity and inclusion, and have worked with many volunteers with diverse backgrounds over the course of our activities in Kurashiki. Volunteers not only come from […]