The Nippon Foundation Going All Out Delivering Emergency Supplies to Quake-Hit People on Noto Peninsula, Receives 747 Million Yen in Donations (2)
As part of its efforts to improve the quality life for people living in evacuation centers on the Noto Peninsula in central Japan hit by a powerful earthquake on New Year’s Day, The Nippon Foundation provided 1,200 cardboard beds that have been installed at such shelters in Suzu City, Anamizu Town and other municipalities in the affected areas.
Donations to its Special Fund for Disaster Preparedness from the general public were used to purchase 1,000 beds, with the remaining 200 provided in cooperation with clubs and club stakeholders of the Japan Professional Basketball League, the operator of Japan’s men’s professional basketball B. LEAGUE, and the Japan Professional Football League, the operator of Japan’s men’s professional soccer J. LEAGUE.
The floors of gymnasiums being used as evacuation centers are very cold, and create hygienic concerns as well. Compared to the floor, the temperature on a cardboard bed feels roughly 10 degrees Celsius warmer to the human body. Many people staying in evacuation shelters, who were having difficulty sleeping because of the cold, welcomed the arrival of the cardboard beds.
According to the Ishikawa prefectural government, the death toll from the January 1 temblor, which toppled buildings, buckled roads and set off landslides and tsunami on the Sea of Japan coast, has reached 242 with 9 still unaccounted-for as of February 15, making it Japan's deadliest earthquake since 2016.
I would like to extend my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives and to all who were impacted by the earthquake.
The quake left more than 46,000 houses in the prefecture destroyed or severely damaged. More than 13,000 people were still living at evacuation shelters and some 34,000 households remained without water supplies as of mid-February, according to NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster.
The foundation stands ready to provide additional support as needed and requested, while keeping in close touch with local authorities and those affected.
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