Caritas is launching a new
emergency program for the tsunami affected population of Japan.
It has
allocated more than 3 million euro in basic necessities and economic
development programs for businesses.
The program will run from September and will continue for the next five years.
The
beneficiaries are the more than 19 thousand displaced people who have
sought refuge in the shelters in the prefecture of Sendai.
"Three months after the tsunami displaced people are still
living in a critical condition - said Fr Daisuke Naru, Secretary General
of Caritas Japan - we are trying to stabilize our operations to provide
aid in the long term. "
In recent months the Caritas organization has been dedicated to
assisting the displaced and has recruited and trained teams of
volunteers to be deployed in worst affected areas.
Since the end of
March more than 1,100 people from all over Japan have joined up to offer
their help.
"We received hundreds of thousands of letters from all over
the world with requests to participate, but also prayers and donations
for the affected population - says Fr Naru. Most of these letters we
have donated to displaced persons to give them spiritual support."
To date, the toll of the March 11tsunami occurred is 15 thousand victims, 8 thousand missing and 370 thousand houses and buildings destroyed.