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| Emergency Assistance for Haiti Earthquake (January 2010 ) |
On January 12th 2010, the Republic of Haiti was struck by a devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake. Of the 10 million people living in the capital of Port-au-Prince, over 310,000 were killed and 3 million were displaced.
AAR JAPAN dispatched a 4-member emergency relief team to the Caribbean nation on January 25th. The team distributed water, food and other daily essentials to Port-au-Prince and other affected areas around the capital until the end of April. With a focus on aiding hard-to-reach women and children, supplies were delivered to roughly 5,300 families. This operation was finished at the end of April 2010. Thank you very much for your support.
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 AAR JAPAN Tokyo HQ staff Yoshino HORIKOSHI, right, hands off a tub of food and daily essentials. |
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| Medical Assistance and Cholera Prevention for Children in Haiti (2011) |
ven before the 2010 earthquake, Haiti was in dire need of improvement to its medical system. In particular, orphanages and facilities for people with disabilities now face a serious shortfall in medical services.
In coordination with local organizations, AAR JAPAN sent traveling clinics to provide medical care to approximately 37orphanages located throughout Port-au-Prince. AAR JAPAN’s traveling clinics also distributed water purification crystals to protect against the rampant spread of cholera, while among those suffering from the infection we worked to relieve symptoms of dehydration with oral rehydration salts. We also used pamphlets and posters to present cholera-prevention courses to the staff and children at the facilities we visited. We finished these operations at the end of June 2011. We sincerely appreciate all your support.
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| Traveling clinics and cholera prevention at orphanages, where poor hygiene and malnutrition leave children vulnerable to illness. |
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| The Operation of the Wheelchairs Production and Provision (2001-2011) |
AAR JAPAN launched an assistance operation for a wheelchairs factory at the National Rehabilitation Center in 2000. By enabling the engineers to produce wheelchairs tailored to each user’s body shape and life style, AAR JAPAN contributed to assisting persons with disabilities to successfully participate in their society.
By the end of May 2011, the entire management of the wheelchair production section was transferred to the center. Thank you very much for your long time support.
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Local staff working on a wheelchair(top)
Wheelchair production in Laos(middle)
Increase in the production of wheelchairs(bottom)
Production of wheelchairs has dramatically increased in the
past three years, from only a few to over thirty a month. There are estimated
over 50 thousand PWD in Laos and demand for wheelchairs is high. |
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| Vocational Training for Persons with Disabilities in Cambodia(1993－2011) |
 AAR JAPAN operated a vocational school in Phnom Penh since 1993 to support the victims of land mines and persons with disabilities suffering from post polio through job trainings. About 40 trainees a year received technical training such as motorcycle repairing, TV, radio and video repairing, sewing, etc. AAR JAPAN provided the trainees not only with these technical knowledge but also literacy, business manner and essential knowledge for social life. Every year trainees who completed this program went out into the world. In 2006 the school acquired a legal status as an independent local NGO and AAR JAPAN continued its support from Japan. As Cambodia’s economy grew, opportunities for persons with disabilities to receive vocational trainings widened as courses became available at better-equipped and staffed vocational schools and colleges. Taking these societal changes into consideration, AAR JAPAN decided to terminate the program at the end of March 2011. We express our heartfelt gratitude for all of your unreserved support for a long period of time. |
| Mr. Chuun Chanton, who acquired a technique for TV repairs in a vocational school, lives independently in his hometown. |
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| Assistance for People Affected by Flooding in Pakistan(2010-2011) |
 Caused by heavy monsoon rains, the 2010 Pakistan floods represent the worst natural disaster in the nation’s history, with over 1,900 people dead and more than 17 million affected. AAR JAPAN dispatched staff on August 6th, 2010, followed by a 3-member emergency relief team. In cooperation with local organizations, we distributed relief supplies and provided basic medical services to survivors. Since December 2010 we also distributed cold-weather supplies and supported elementary schools affected by the flooding. We finished this assistance in June 2011. Thank you very much for your support. |
| Water flows into evacuees’ tents. |
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| Assistance for People Affected by the Kashmir Earthquake in Pakistan(2005-2010) |
Striking northern Pakistan on October 8th, 2005, the Kashmir Earthquake affected roughly 2.5 million people and resulted in nearly 40,000 deaths, making it the second-most damaging quake recorded worldwide next to the 2004 Sumatra Earthquake.
AAR JAPAN dispatched staff two days after the earthquake, distributing emergency relief supplies to survivors in cooperation with local aid groups and related organizations, as well as supporting the recovery of water supply facilities. After concluding initial emergency assistance, AAR JAPAN continued consulting with local groups to support the repair of water supply facilities in affected villages and provide literacy education for female survivors.
We finished this assistance in May 2010. We sincerely appreciate all your support.
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| Kiyoto ONISHI, Deputy Secretary General of AAR JAPAN, repairs water supply facilities in Bule Village in northern Pakistan. |
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| Emergency Assistance for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) (September-October, 2009) |
At the end of April in 2009, government troops began a crackdown on anti-government protests in northern Pakistan. The resulting deterioration in security forced people to the south, away from the region of conflict. While some began to return to their homes when major conflict ended in the middle of July 2009, many people remained sheltered in IDP camps, rented houses, or relatives’ homes due to the threat of continuing localized conflicts.
AAR JAPAN established a temporary clinic and provided free medical services for IDPs and people who had returned to their homes until local clinics were able to recover from damage incurred in the fighting.
The program was carried out for 2 months from September to October 2009. We express our gratitude for all of your support. |
| Rie MATSUMOTO, AAR JAPAN (right) along with children who fled from conflict areas in Pakistan. |
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| Mine Risk Education in Angola(2004-2011) |
 It
is estimated that around 8 million mines remain buried in Angola. The existence
of these mines poses a serious threat to the lives of the Angolan people. Despite
being a rife with mines and unexploded ordnances, the province of Lunda
Sul on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo had hardly seen any
anti-landmine projects before AAR JAPAN commenced its activities.
AAR's operation in the region began in September 2004. Implementing
mine risk education has been an important part of our effort so that people
would
be
able to protect their own lives from landmines and unexploded ordnances.
In addition, we have contributed to the clearing of landmines and unexploded
ordnances by gathering information on mined areas from the locals and passing
them on to affiliated mine clearance organizations.
For three years, until
August 2007, we continued to provide this assistance, gradually expanding
the area in which we worked. In September 2007, we transferred these tasks
to CAPDC, a local partner organization that we had been working with. We
now support this local NGO so that the landmine action programs can be continued
in this region.
The capability was satisfactorily strengthened through AAR JAPAN’s support to the level that it can finance and manage the CAPDC program on its own. Therefore, a decision was taken to complete this operation in March 2011. We would like to express our appreciation for your support. |
| Mine
Risk Education featuring puppets. Attracted by the rhythm of drums. many
people gathered to see the puppet show. |
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| Assistance for Returnees in Angola(2006-2011) |
 The
Angolan refugees who had fled to neighboring countries during the civil war
started returning to their country after the 2002 ceasefire. Back in their
country many of the returnees now face social and financial difficulties including
language barrier and serious job shortages. In 2006, AAR JAPAN researched on
returnees' self-help groups in Luena, the capital of Moxico Province, where
many of the
returnees
live. Since May 2007, we have been assisting
the efforts of the Programme for Academic Education and Vocational Training
(PAEVT), a community based educational organization formed by repatriating
educationists. Currently, we are supporting 30 returnee women who are taking
a six-month sewing
skills course. |
| Women
intent on acquiring sewing skills. Acquiring skills is a way to gaining
economic independence. |
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| Emergency Assistance for Cyclone Giri in Myanmar (October 2010 - March 2011) |
AAR JAPAN carried out emergency relief operations for the people affected by Cyclone Giri in October 2010. These efforts ended in March 2011. |
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| Emergency
Assistance for Cyclone “Nargis” in Myanmar (May
2008 – August 2010) |
 The
powerful cyclone, “Nargis”, which hit the southern
region and Yangon Division on 2 and 3 May 2008 caused extensive
damage. The Myanmar government estimated that 84,537 people were
dead, 53,826 were missing, 19,539 were seriously injured, and 2.4
million were seriously affected, losing family members, jobs and
houses (as of July 2008).
Five days after the cyclone, AAR JAPAN started relief operations
with special emphasis on vulnerable people, such as persons with
disabilities and villagers living in remote areas far from big
cities (Yangon and Ayeyarwaddy Divisions). AAR JAPAN provided them
with relief supplies such as rice, oil, beans, salt, drinking water,
plastic sheet, mosquito nets, blankets, kitchen utensils, soap,
candles, charcoal, lighters, and so on, in cooperation with local
agencies, and with support from Japan
Platform in addition to AAR
JAPAN’s own fund.
From September 2008, AAR JAPAN implemented additional
activities, consisting of basic food distribution, mobile clinics,
psychosocial support, nutrition education, and assistance to persons
with disabilities. We finished this operation in August 2010. |
| Distribution
of relief supplies. |
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| Helping PWDs & Landmine Survivors after the War in Sri Lanka (August 2009 - March 2011) |
 Since August 2009, AAR JAPAN delivered necessary assistive devices such as wheelchairs or crutches to the PWDs and lanmine survivors in IDP camps in Vavuniya District in the north and in Monaragala District in the southeast of Sri Lanka, in cooperation with Motivation Charitable Trust Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (SLFRD). Both of them are local NGOs.
From August, 2010, a livelihood support program was extended to war-victim widows and landmine survivors in the northern district of Kilinochchi together with a local NGO called Community Trust Fund. This operation ended in March 2011. |
| Delivering wheelchairs to PWDs in Sri Lanka.(Left: Sayako NOGIWA, a staff member of AAR JAPAN) |
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| Medical Assistance in Tajikistan (2003-2010) |
| Since
its independence in 1991, Tajikistan has received aid from various countries
and organizations, but much of it has been in the form of temporary assistance
such as distribution of medication. Taking into consideration that the
government lacks the resources to renew and maintain medical equipment,
AAR JAPAN has rebuilt old hospitals and provided medical equipment in
the eastern mountainous region. We have also organized mobile clinics
using the
rebuilt hospitals as hubs. These efforts ended in October 2010. |
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| Emergency Assistance for Off Sumatra Earthquake in Indonesia (2009-2010) |
 On September 30, 2009, Indonesia was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 which occurred off Sumatra. About 4.3 million people suffered from it, and about 100,000 houses where destroyed. AAR JAPAN dispatched two staff members to the island on October 4 and began its urgent relief activities in Padang, West Sumatra, which is located near the center of the earthquake and therefore was damaged most extensively. On October 7, working together with ten schools where children with disabilities living in Padang City, AAR JAPAN delivered food and daily goods to 565 households (approximately 2,800 people). These are the basic necessities needed to survive for the victims whose houses where damaged and their communities infrastructure destroyed.
We finished this operation in February 2010. We would like to express our appreciation for all of your support. |
| A destroyed house after the Sumatra earthquake in Padang. Damage was great in this area because the city is located near the center of the earthquake. |
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| Emergency Assistance for Philippines Typhoon (2009-2010) |
 The Philippines was struck by Typhoon No. 16 on September 26, 2009. The typhoon brought a record heavy rain and flood damage. As of October 8, the number of the dead reached 380, and victims amounted to 4.3 millions. AAR JAPAN dispatched two staff members to the country on October 2. On October 9, we delivered food such as sugar and daily goods to 375 households consisting of employees (70% are the persons with disabilities) of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. (TWHI), an association for the disabled in Cainta, Rizal province, which suffered extensive damage from the typhoon. We also provided 50 mattresses to those with severe disabilities.
Urgent Appeal - Typhoon
No.16 in the Philippinesvities and Earthquake off Sumatra in Indonesia (3
Dec, 2009)
We finished this operation in August 2010. Thank you very much for all of your support. |
| AAR JAPAN distributed daily goods at the facility for supporting the disabled, damaged extensively in Cainta, Rizal province. We presented a package of goods to each person. (Left: Juri HIROYA, a staff member of AAR JAPAN) |
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| Urgent Reconstruction Relief for Large Tsunami in Indian Ocean (December 2004 – August 2006) |
On December 26, 2004, a huge earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 followed by a colossus Tsunami occurred off Western Sumatra in Indonesia. Over 30,000 lives were lost instantly and approximately 100,000 houses were destroyed in Sri Lanka in only 20 minutes.
Two days after the Tsunami, AAR JAPAN staff members entered the affected area and began emergency assistance activities. In April 2005, a temporary office was opened in the capital city of Colombo. Since then, AAR JAPAN has been engaged in supporting reconstruction work through building houses for 30 victim households and a community center as well as providing mental care services for local citizens. In August 2005, as part of our livelihood support for the affected local people, AAR JAPAN repaired a fishermen’s union building and provided fishing equipment for the traditional fishery. When a local NGO “Women’s Bank,” which lends money to women with low interest, established new groups in six villages in Galle District in southern Sri Lanka, AAR JAPAN supported their operations. At the end of August 2006, all the operations were transferred to local NGOs. Since then, follow-up activities, including a monitoring study in 2007 have been conducted. |
Distribution of emergency relief items (January 3, 2005)
AAR JAPAN distributed emergency relief items such as food and mattresses immediately after the disaster, and later school supplies and additional items for daily living. |
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Past Activities
