Orthodox Church in Japan to Meet on Aid and Recovery Efforts

Orthodox Church in Japan to
Meet on Aid and Recovery Efforts

April 7, 2011

Baltimore, MD (IOCC) — Nearly a month after the fourth largest earthquake ever recorded struck the eastern coast of Japan and touched off a devastating tsunami, earthquakes continue to rattle the nerves of survivors and complicate relief efforts. More than thirty earthquakes measuring 6.0 and above on the Richter scale have been experienced in eastern Japan as efforts to assist survivors and rebuild continue.

Over the past three weeks the staff of the Sendai Diocese of the Orthodox Church in Japan have been working to assess the needs of survivors, account for the Orthodox faithful and survey the condition of Church properties along the coastal areas impacted by the disasters.

Six Orthodox faithful were lost in the disasters, four are still missing and one church was totally destroyed by the tsunami and fire, reported Fr. Clement Kodama, Secretary to Bishop Seraphim of the Sendai Diocese.

The Orthodox Church of Japan will convene a meeting of its bishops on April 12 in Tokyo to hear reports on the current needs in the disaster area and plan for the continued response and reconstruction efforts.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has extended offers of assistance to the Orthodox Church in Japan to provide essential aid, as needed, and will support efforts to provide assistance as the disaster response moves into the recovery phase.

While immediate relief supplies have been provided to shelters serving survivors of the disasters, access to the disaster-affected areas is restricted and travel and communication remains difficult due to the road conditions, rationing of gasoline, rolling blackouts and intermittent telephone service.

Thousands of people displaced by the earthquake, tsunami and radiation have been sheltered by relatives outside of the disaster zone as authorities in the prefectures begin construction of over 10,000 temporary homes.

"The earthquake and tsunami were something unreal, but people's spirits are still high and they encourage each other," reported Fr. Mark Koike, an Orthodox priest in Tohoku. "As sad as each story is, there are miracles we encounter."

Fr. Mark related the story of one parishioner who was desperately looking for her aged mother near their house that had been destroyed by the tsunami. She located the site of the house and found the family cross standing upright in the rubble.

"She said she found the bright light in the darkness," said Fr. Mark.

IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.

How You Can Help

You can help the victims of disasters around the world, like those in Japan, by making a financial gift to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need. To make a gift, please visit www.iocc.org, call toll free at 1-877-803-IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.

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Media: Contact Mark Hodde at 410-243-9820 or email mhodde@iocc.org.

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