International Disaster Relief

Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) responds to disasters in the world in partnership with local organizations based in the countries affected by the disasters as well as international humanitarian agencies. Response plans are carefully designed to best serve the people in the affected communities and implemented in accordance to the international humanitarian guidelines and standards.

EARTHQUAKES IN TAIWAN (Apr 2024)

On April 3, 2024, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien City in Taiwan, shaking a wide area with a strong tremor of magnitude 6 or higher. According to Taiwanese authorities, more than 17 people were killed and more than 1,100 injured (as of April 17, 2024). Large-scale damage has occurred, including collapsed buildings, landslides, and falling rocks.

Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) has begun surveying the damage through its international network and is preparing for relief activities.

Taiwanese people have delivered a great deal of support to the disaster-stricken areas in Japan in the past, including the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture. In response to the large-scale earthquake damage in Taiwan, we will work with local partner organizations to confirm the damage situation, support system, and assistance needed, and implement relief activities tailored to local needs..

WILDFIRES IN CENTRAL CHILE (Feb 2024)

Wildfires began in at least four spots on February 2, 2024, and have been burning across parts of central Chile, particularly in the regions of Valparaíso, O’Higgins, and Maule resulting in casualties and damage. The authority referred to the wildfires as the worst catastrophe to hit the country since the earthquake of 2010. According to the Chilean National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED), at least 112 people have lost lives following the wildfires and more than 4,000 to 6,000 homes were destroyed. It is also confirmed that parts of the internationally reknowned botanical garden in Viña del Mar has been burned with loss of four lives.

PBV gathered damage information from the Corporación Nikkei Región de Valparaíso (Valparaiso Nikkei Association) and launched an emergency relief fund to support the local efforts to help those affected. Donations will be used for house repairing and recovery of cherry trees planted by Valparaiso Nikkei Association in the Japanese Garden at the National Botanical Garden.

WILDFIRES IN MAUI COUNTY HAWAI’I (Aug 2023)

On 8th August, 2023, the first fire was confirmed in Maui Island, Hawaii. The fires spread quickly and burnt the communities for days, resulting in damaging more than 2000 buildings in western area of the island. According to the media reports, most of the burnt structures were residential.

PBV staff dispatched to Maui joined the non-profit organization World Central Kitchen to help distribute meals to the residents affected by the fires in Lahaina. PBV has set up an emergency relief fund to support local communities in Maui and by the end of August, funds from individual donors have supported over 700 meals.

EARTHQUAKES IN TURKIYE AND SYRIA (Feb 2023)

Turkiye (formerly known as Turkey) and Syria experienced very strong earthquakes on February 6. Extensive damage has been reported in both countries. More than a hundred aftershocks have been recorded as of February 7.

PBV dispatched staff members to the affected areas for damage assessment and emergency relief activity in late February. The team delivered emergency relief supplies to the affected communities in Hatay province, one of the worst affected areas. With the support of Turkiye-based members of ASAR Humanity, we distributed more than 400 hot meals, 50 hygiene kits, 30 solar lanterns, and 13 sleeping bags. The items were handed to the residents staying in tents and temporary housing with limited access to lifelines. The distribution was made possible with generous contributions from people in Japan, including YAMAP Inc., a Japanese company that donated the lanterns and sleeping bags.

Immediately after the earthquakes occurred, PBV has been in touch with local NGOs and UN agencies to gather information on the damage and established an emergency relief fund to support those in the affected communities, and launched medium-to long-term relief activities through the local partner, Nirengi Association, in Turkiye. In the suburbs of Antakya, Hatay Province in southern Turkey, where the earthquake caused particularly severe damage, kindergartens and nursery schools had not been adequately established even before the earthquake struck. Therefore, as part of its support activities, PBV set up several container houses called “Nirengi Point” in this area as a safe place for children to play and learn. At Nirengi Point, program is not only targeting children group, but also individual adult counseling are available. This program is intended to provide psycho-social support to all affected residents and groups.

EARTHQUAKE IN WESTERN JAVA, INDONESIA (Nov 2022)

On 21 November 2022, at around 1:20 pm local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 on the Richter scale occurred near Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia. The disaster took the lives of 602 people and damaged 56,548 houses resulting in the displacement of more than 114,000 residents.

Peace Boat Disaster Relief Centre (PBV) has launched an emergency relief fund to provide emergency assistance to the affected communities through a local humanitarian NGO, ASAR Humanity in Indonesia. The generous donations made positive impacts on the communities and enabled ASAR Humanity to provide more than 3,000 people with support to, ranging from health services, food packages, shelter, public sanitation, and school equipment.

ALL FOR UKRAINE (Mar 2022)

PBV provides the following support in cooperation with local NGOs working on the frontlines of aid in Ukraine and abroad.

Emergency Supplies and Medical Supplies Support
In cooperation with PATRIR (Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania) based in Romania, we delivered medicines, hygiene supplies, and medical equipment to a total of 21 hospitals throughout Ukraine. Between May and July 2022, the team delivered medical supplies to more than eight hospitals in Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkov with funding support from Japan Platform. PATRIR has been shipping food and daily essentials to Ukraine, where citizens have limited to no access to such items. With the help of local NGOs, the PATRIR team has been distributing emergency supplies for families in dire situations at drop-off points. Thanks to the generous support from Palsystem, daily necessities such as pasta, flour, canned food, detergent, and baby nappies have regularly been transported to Ukraine.

Support for Cancer Patients
We supported cancer patients together with Youth Cancer Europe, an NGO based and founded in Romania in 2015 that provides medical assistance. This includes helping with hospital transfers and evacuation arrangements, arranging safe housing for patients to live with their families, food assistance, and ongoing care. By February 23, 2023, we have assisted more than 320 patients and their families, totaling about 700 people.

Assistance to Displaced Persons
“Dobra Hata”, a support center run by Notorious Learning Projects, which supports displaced persons in Romania. This center began providing direct supplies and livelihood support to the displaced persons immediately after the war started, and is now a support center used by 100 to 150 families every day. PBV supports the operation of this center that distributes clothing, food,and daily necessities, provides counseling, a playground for children, language classes of Ukrainian, Romanian and English,vocational training courses and material support to Ukraine, etc.

Together with the Romanian National Council for Refugees (CNRR), which has a long history of providing support for refugees in Romania, PBV provided a wide range of assistance in the Ukrainian-Romanian border region, including the establishment of a consultation service and call center, legal assistance, interpretation and translation services, and training courses for support personnel. The number of CNRR consultations (contact points and hotlines) reached 35,750 (as of December 31, 2022).

Emergency winterization assistance (food aid)
The situation for those living in Ukraine is becoming increasingly severe. In cooperation with World Central Kitchen, an NGO specializing in food assistance, we helped provide meals and food (about 3,300 meals) in Ukraine as emergency winterization assistance from the end of 2022 to 2023.

Regenerative Medicine Rehabilitation Project
In this war, the number of people who need rehabilitation to regain the ability to walk due to head trauma and other injuries exceeds 20,000. Once the brain is damaged, treatment and rehabilitation take time, and in many cases, residual effects remain. In light of this situation, we are collaborating with Professor Rui Yuge of Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences to bring cutting-edge regenerative medicine rehabilitation to patients with head trauma.

TYPHOON RAI (ODETTE) (Dec 2021)

On 16-17 December 2021, a powerful typhoon Rai (local name: Odette) made landfall in the islands of central Philippines, causing extensive damage. As of 22 December, 2.4 million people and 604,322 households have been affected and 375 lives have been lost.

PBV has set up an emergency relief fund to help those affected by the typhoon. The funds raised will support the emergency response carried out by maternity centers operated by the Bumi Sehat Foundation. The Bumi-Wadah Philippines, which is a local partner of the foundation, currently operates two maternity clinics in the Philippines.

U.S. TORNADO OUTBREAK (Dec 2021)

On December 10th, 11th and 15th, 2021, nearly 70 out-of-season tornadoes ripped across ten states in the Midwest and Southeast in the United States, including Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee. This tornado outbreak was the worst occurring in December in U.S. history, and nearly 100 people lost their lives, mainly in Kentucky. (cAs of December 17, 2021, according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy) .

Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) has set up an emergency relief fund to support the local organizations to rebuild the communities affected by the tornadoes. The donations raised were used to support relief efforts in the affected areas through the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, a non-profit organization in the United States.

Floods and Typhoons in Central Vietnam (Oct-Nov 2020)

Floods and Typhoons in Central Vietnam (Dec 2020)

Since early October 2020, nine provinces in central Vietnam experienced torrential rains and seven tropical storms by the end of November. Landslides and floods caused enormous damage to the communities in the region, including loss of more then 240 lives. The United Nations Country Office in Vietnam estimates the disaster affected 7.7 million people and support in every sector, including food, livelihood, health and education, is in urgent need. PBV set us an emergency relief fund to support the Da Nang Youth Union, which has been actively involved in relief projects in and around the city of Da Nang. The fund enabled the Youth Union to deliver food packages to 200 families in extremely difficult economic situations in flooded communities in Da Nang.

Oil Spill Disaster, Mauritius (Aug 2020)

Oil Spill Disaster, Mauritius

On July 25th, the Wakashio, a cargo ship owned and operated by a Japanese company, ran aground in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Pointe d’Esny in south-eastern Mauritius. The accident caused fuel from the ship to begin leaking out into the surrounding coral reefs on August 6th, resulting in over 1000 tons of oil polluting the nearby waters and coast lines. The Mauritius government has declared a ‘state of environmental emergency.’ PBV launched a 6-months long fund-raising campaign for emergency relief to support the environmental and financial recovery efforts in Mauritius. The donations have supported the activities of the Mauritian Wildlife Fund (MWF) and Environmental Protection and Conservation Organizations (EPCO) working towards nature conservation and economic recovery of fishing communities. More than 8000 individuals and organizations in Japan offered their contribution to the fund to support the initiatives by the two organizations.

Bushfires, Australia (Jan 2020)

In late 2019, bushfires in Australia escalated into an unprecedented scale. As covered in the media, the fires burnt down massive areas of the states of New South Wales, Victoria and other areas in the continent, resulting in loss of lives of residents and fire-fighting volunteers, as well as enormous damage to the environment and personal and community properties. PBV put out a call for donations to respond to these deadly bushfires and raised funds from individuals and organizations across Japan. Passengers on the 103rd Peace Boat Voyage also made great contribution to the relief fund. The donations raised during the campaign supported the recovery of first nations communities in Australia via the Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities with facilitation by the Australian Communities Foundation.

Cyclone Idai, Mozambique (Mar 2019)

In mid-March 2019, Cyclone Idai struck Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. Idai was described as one of the deadliest storm-related disasters to hit the southern hemisphere, with more than 1.5 million people suffering from the destruction it wrought. PBV dispatched two staff members to Beira, Sofala Province, Mozambique, in April to conduct a rapid needs assessment. The dispatched staff attended regular meetings organized by humanitarian agencies and gathered information about ongoing projects to identify the greatest needs in the affected communities, particularly in badly hit rural areas. In Buzi District, Sofala Province, Cyclone Idai had caused widespread flooding, ruining the upcoming harvest. Houses and public infrastructure had also been destroyed. PBV embarked on a project in collaboration with a local NGO, Kulima, to enhance food security in Buzi District. Food kits were distributed to support local communities till the next harvest, while seed kits were also provided to help rebuild their livelihoods.

Fuego Volcano Eruption, Guatemala (Jun 2018)

Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego erupted on 3 June 2018, completing destroying several communities and affecting around 1.7 million people. PBV launched extensive efforts, working with our local partner MINNASAN on many fronts. Counselling and consultation support for children who were orphaned and for parents who had lost their children was provided, while a scholarship was also launched for families who did not have the means to support their children to attend school anymore. Relief supplies like hygiene products, clothes, food, etc. were further provided to assist in the rebuilding of communities and livelihoods.

Hurricane Matthew, Haiti (Oct 2016)

On 4 October 2016, Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths and more than 170,000 people being forced to evacuate. With water and sewage systems affected, access to portable and safe water became a serious problem, leading to a rise in diseases such as cholera and cases of diarrhea.
Working with American NPO World Cares Center and other bodies, PBV commenced its emergency relief operations in Jérémie, the capital of Grand’Anse department. PBV prioritized the provision of sanitary supplies to prevent the further spread of cholera. Working together with local counterparts, PBV then targeted the provision of clean water to affected areas while also educating the local communities about the importance of proper sanitation via workshops. Portable water filters were provided to 744 households, 4 schools, and two medical facilities, while the workshops focused on handwashing techniques using soap and the importance of heating up food before consumption. Through these efforts, it is expected that more than 10,000 people would benefit over a span of a decade, having gained the knowhow to access clean drinking water and how to reduce their risks of getting diseases like cholera.

Earthquake, Nepal (Apr 2015)

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, resulting in more than 8,800 deaths and 60,000 people having to evacuate to safety. Besides causing landslides and fissures to surface, the tremors also triggered the collapse of many brick buildings. Working with Japanese NGO Shaplaneer and local NGOs like Social Work Institute and Child Workers in Nepal, PBV conducted extensive aid efforts in affected regions. Emergency relief efforts included the distribution of daily necessities and learning kits, building of a temporary school compound as well as the training of disaster volunteer coordinators. The entire operation lasted for around half a year.

Cyclone Pam, Vanuatu (Mar 2015)

In March 2015, PBV dispatched personnel to Vanuatu days after Cyclone Pam struck to conduct a rapid needs assessment. Working closely with affected communities, NGOs, and UN cluster members, PBV gathered information and identified key on-the-ground partners. PBV’s emergency funds were used in partnership with local humanitarian organization “Act for Peace” to support the recovery of the small-sized farms in the agriculture sector, with the aim of promoting local long-term food security.

Related article:
Vanuatu: Cyclone Pam Relief

Typhoon Hagupit, the Philippines (Dec 2014)

A year after Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of the Philippines and resulted in more than 7000 casualties, Typhoon Hagupit led to another wave of damage to the archipelago. In the wake of Typhoon Hagupit, PBV sent emergency funds to local partner organization PDRRN, with whom a strong partnership had been established after Typhoon Haiyan. These funds were used to support the recovery of fishing industries in Busali village, Biliran Islands.

Typhoon Haiyan, Cebu and Biliran Islands, the Philippines (Nov 2013)

Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan (Nov 2013 – Jul 2014)

Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines (Nov 2013)

Typhoon Haiyan tore through the Philippines in November 2013, causing widespread devastation. A range of humanitarian actors, including UN agencies, governmental bodies and international NGOs, responded immediately. PBV dispatched experienced staff immediately to conduct field assessments and support coordination of relief efforts with a large number of domestic and international organizations that responded. The sheer scale of the disaster, compounded by the complex geographical landscape and the variety of community needs that arose, made this response a major challenge for all involved. In collaboration with private, civil and government sector groups, PBV provided emergency support to evacuees and assisted in long-term recovery through the distribution of vital supplies to affected communities. Participation in the UN cluster system enabled PBV to gather and share crucial information, and find suitable partner organizations to maximize the impact of operations at the grass-roots level. With the active participation of local stakeholders, PBV and a local partner distributed emergency shelter repair kits and kitchen starter kits to over 1,100 households on Biliran Island.

* PBV worked in partnership with local government groups and the following organizations: CWS-Asia/ Pacific, FJERA, PDRRN and PGX.

Moore Tornado, Oklahoma, United States (May 2013)

Moore Tornado, Oklahoma, United States (May 2013)

In May 2013, a series of powerful tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma state, claiming many lives and destroying entire neighborhoods. PBV immediately started raising funds to provide assistance. In the following weeks, PBV dispatched a team of experienced staff that collaborated with local community groups and NPOs, assisting in the coordination of volunteers, the removal of debris, and other field operations. PBV also provided financial support to local relief organisations in Moore, Oklahoma.

Earthquake, Guatemala (Nov 2012)

In November 2012, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Guatemala, causing widespread damage and resulting in more than 40 deaths. Despite the severity of the situation, this disaster didn’t not receive much attention from Japanese media. Peace Boat conducted an onboard fundraising campaign to assist those affected, raising $5,299 in total. This sum was sent to a local NGO in Guatemala, CEIBA, which used the funds to repair damaged homes and to assist those in need.

New York, Hurricane Sandy (Oct 2012)

Hurricane Sandy (Oct 2012)

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast of the USA. For over 6 months, PBV and Peace Boat US members worked in the New York City area with a local partner organization, dispatching coordinators and volunteers to assist affected communities. Volunteers were involved in both field and administrative operations, focusing mainly on the management and coordination of local volunteers and collecting and fulfilling the needs of the local residents. This became a symbol of U.S –Japan solidarity and a model of how small teams of experienced volunteers can help boost the capacity of local organizations facing a surge in volunteers following disasters.

Van Earthquakes, Turkey (Oct 2011)

In October 2011, the Van province of Turkey was struck by magnitude 7.1 earthquake. PBV launched a fund-raising campaign, sending $3,500 through one of its local partners to assist in rebuilding efforts and help those affected tide through the upcoming winter.