Japan IsraAID Support Program (JISP) responds to devastating floods and landslides in Japan

JISP, IsraAID’s Japan branch, sends an emergency response team to the worst-affected areas and assesses immediate needs.

Japan IsraAID Support Program (JISP), IsraAID’s branch in Japan, today deployed an emergency response team to the Okayama prefecture in western Japan, two days after the onset of torrential rainfall resulted in devastating flooding and landslides. There are currently over 95 reported fatalities, dozens still missing and over two million people ordered to evacuate their homes, while search and rescue efforts continue. This is allegedly the heaviest rainfall in decades, and one of the worst weather-related disasters in Japan since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The rain continues to cause extensive damage across large areas of the country.

The team will distribute urgent relief items and assess the immediate medical and post-trauma psychosocial needs. IsraAID’s professionals will also provide Psychological First Aid and mental health support to those evacuated.

IsraAID arrived in Japan four days after the 2011 tsunami and is still there today providing critical post-trauma capacity-building, psychosocial and mental health support and leadership training for youth. In 2013, IsraAID established JISP. Since then, JISP, which is led by Tohoku-based disaster professionals, has responded in partnership with IsraAID to earthquakes and flooding in Southern Japan and Nepal, and supported IsraAID’s refugee programs in Kenya, with significant funding from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. JISP’s emergency response team arriving in Okayama are all from the area affected by the 2011 tsunami.

Yotam Polizer, IsraAID’s co-CEO, notes: “For the last 7 years IsraAID, and our local branch JISP, has worked closely to support thousands of survivors affected by the tsunami and earthquakes. The Japanese people are some of the most resilient and inspiring people we have ever worked with. We are proud of our Japanese team and will continue to support the affected communities as long as needed.”