Update—NEWS RELEASE: OpUSA Readies Aid for Japan

OPERATION USA PREPARES EMERGENCY AID FOR JAPAN FOLLOWING 8.9 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE

LOS ANGELES, CA (UPDATE: March 18, 2011)—Los Angeles-based International relief agency Operation USA is currently preparing aid to Japan following the earthquake and tsunami that hit last week.

Operation USA is working to address immediate needs for material aid in the face of the enormous damage caused, with a focus on shelter and medical supplies. A delivery of winter-wear/clothing is currently underway, providing much needed warm outerwear to those in transitional housing. Emergency supplies, including shelter items, hand-crank radios and flash lights, are being prepared for shipment. Staged disaster supplies are also being prepped for dispatch from OpUSA’s Port of Los Angeles warehouse, to on the ground partner agencies in Japan. Local partners include Peace Winds Japan and Second Harvest.

Given the incredible scale of this catastrophe, second phase needs will be tremendous. Operation USA will work with a well-established network of local partners, and draw on resources in Japan dating back to the Kobe quake.

While further assessment is needed before committing to specific recovery projects, Operation USA will focus its efforts on supporting communities that may be overlooked by larger agencies or the Japanese government. Projects will be identified where the efforts can have the maximum impact. Operation USA has over 30 years experience in both education and community health projects (most recently in Haiti, China and Chile), and will focus its recovery efforts in these areas.

The 8.9 quake, the most powerful recorded in Japan’s history, struck 250 miles north-east of Tokyo, trigerring a massive Tsunami. The earthquake hit at 1446 local time at a depth of about 24km, causing great human loss and extensive damage to infrastructure.