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 […]

10
Jul 2019

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Cyclone Idai: Food and Seed Kit Distribution Program in the Buzi District

In order to support community survival until the next harvest, we started distributing food and seed kits in 12 communities in the Buzi District, Sofala Province, in early June. The food kits contain rice and maize flour; both serve as staple foods in the country,  as well as cooking oil and beans, while the seed kits contain vegetable seeds and sweet potato roots for increased food security and nutrition. We aimed to distribute kits to the households in the village with a focus on the most vulnerable. As mentioned in the previous posts, the communities were located in remote areas with limited transportation. Many roads were still blocked and regular […]

15
Jun 2019

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Cyclone Idai: Relief Program in Buzi District

While communicating with multiple thematic clusters of international relief agents gathered in Beira, we tried to identify the locations and programs most in need based on up-to-date information gathered from international and local organizations. In the course of these activities, we came across a member of a local NGO, Kulima. This NGO has been actively involved in social and economic projects since its foundation in the 1980s and fostered strong networks in rural communities across the country. The abundant knowledge and experience of this NGO helped us a great deal while we had limited connections in the country. With an emergency grant from a Japan-based international NGO, Japan Platform, we decided […]

20
May 2019

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Cyclone Idai: Damage in Rural Areas in Mozambique

The dispatched PBV members traveled to rural communities outside Beira for further investigation of the damage caused by Cyclone Idai. The storm first made landfall in Beira then headed inland, moving westward over a plain which rivers run through. The landscape creates favorable conditions for agriculture in ordinary times, but led to extensive flooding during and after the storm. In particular, Buzi District located in the south of Beira experienced severe flooding due to the storm. During the storm, many were rescued from the area by helicopter and boat while witnessing the water lever rising way over head height. In some parts, the water from the storm had yet to […]

08
May 2019

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Cyclone Idai: Damage and Needs Assessment in Sofala Province, Mozambique

In mid-March 2019, a tropical cyclone, Idai, struck Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. It devastated the region. The death toll rose to 603 in Mozambique alone and thousands of people have been struggling to even live their everyday lives. The Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV) dispatched two staff members to Beira, Sofala Province, Mozambique, in April for damage assessment for emergency relief. Beira is a port city located in the central part of the country and serves as the second largest city after the capital Maputo. The city is not only a busy commercial hub, home to 500,000 people, but also boasts one of the most strategic ports in […]

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 […]

22
Jan 2019

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[Western Japan Flooding] We Need More Volunteers!

The Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV) has been working in Kurashiki, Okayama to support local residents who were affected by the torrential rain and flood in July 2018. The PBV has dispatched more than 300 volunteers to help out with emergency shelter management, hot meal distribution, relief supply-demand coordination, house clean-ups, community re-building and other activities needed in the affected area. Six months have passed since the disaster, but the local residents are still in great need of help to recover and rebuild their livelihoods and communities, and the PBV has decided to continue the support effort until 24 March 2019. We seek volunteers who can work with […]

25
Dec 2018

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[Flood in Western Japan] Call for International Volunteers: January 2019

We are calling for a team of international volunteers to Kurashiki, Okayama, again! Western Japan was hit by historic rainfall in July 2018, leading to the worst storm-related disaster in the Heisei era. In response to the disaster, Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV) has carried out relief activities in the affected area right after the disaster in July. Since then, PBV has dispatched hundreds of volunteers from all over Japan and also from other countries, to Kurashiki city, Okayama Prefecture where severely damaged by the disaster. People in the damaged area are still facing huge challenges in recovery, and are in a great need of help from volunteers […]

13
Dec 2018

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[Flood in Western Japan] Project Period Extended until March!

More than five months have passed since the historical rainfall and flood hit western Japan in July this year. Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV) has been working closely with the people in flooded areas in Kurashiki, Okayama prefecture, to provide support to the local residents since the disaster. More than 300 volunteers have participated in the PBV’s disaster relief activities since then. The number of the evacuees in official shelters has declined to 21 and many moved to their temporary housings in Kurashiki and neighboring areas now. PBV has carried our relief project in Mabi-cho in the city, which was severely damaged by the disaster, with 5600 houses […]

06
Nov 2018

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Family evacuated to a primary school classroom. This lady gave birth to a baby just two days after the eruption (photo by Joel Dardon)

Updates on Support to Communities affected by the Mt. Fuego Volcanic Eruption in Guatemala

On June 3, 2018, the volcano Mt. Fuego in Guatemala erupted and caused catastrophic damage to the surrounding areas, including the loss of lives. Our partner organization in the country, MINNASAN, which works for poverty reduction and provision of learning opportunities for children, contacted us to seek assistance. Shortly after this communication, the Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV) decided to support the people affected by the eruption, and launched a fundraising project to assist the relief efforts conducted by MINNASAN. Here is a summary report from our partner, MINNASAN. The eruption of Mt. Fuego in June of this year affected thousands of people. Thanks to the support we received […]

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