A massive earthquake, the seventh largest recorded in history, struck the east coast of Japan on Friday 11 March. The earthquake triggered a tsunami which hit the east coast of Japan with 7-metre-high waves, leaving a trail of destruction.
The Japanese Red Cross has been working on the ground since the disaster began, mobilising teams to provide first aid and healthcare, and to plan the relief operation.
Fears of destructive waves hitting other countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines and the US, have eased, but the local Red Cross National Societies in affected countries were ready to respond and were well prepared for disasters. The Indonesian Red Cross, for example, helped the authorities move people from the coast to higher ground.
The Japanese Red Cross has agreed to accept donations from donors in the UK.
In the event that they receive more donations to the Japan Tsunami Appeal than the Japanese Red Cross and International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement can reasonably and efficiently spend, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to humanitarian disasters both here in the UK and overseas.
