Rotary Involvement in Japan Tsunami and Earthquake Victims

Rotary Involvement in Japan Tsunami & Earthquake Victims

Disaster----Earthquake  Richter Scale 8.9 magnitude

Japan suffered with a strong earthquake and followed by severe tsunami destroying Sandai City. Human casualties reported at more than 1,000 and a community of near 9,000 people were missing. Residential houses were wiped out, buildings collapsed & livelihood disappeared.

It was reported that this disaster was the worst in the last 60 years in Japan & millions of people watched on their televisions the destructions & lost of human lives. Car, ships & houses were just like a small toys washed away and tossed in the path of the  rumbling tsunami.

How Rotary Organizations responded into this disaster?

In the last 48 hours, Rotary Shelterbox mobilized its rescue team to visit the hardest hit area of  Sandai City. Simultaneously, thousands of shelterboxes were being readied to be flown to the nearest city of disaster area. The victims need clean water, blankets, food, clothes to ensure a temporary relief. Those who lost their houses certainly need a comfortable shelter to house their children & family. Rotary Shelterbox is aimed to provide an early relief to the victims of disaster such as kitchen utensils, water, & dignified shelter for the families.

Under the able leadership of District Governor Aloysius Purwa, he quickly requested the 1,800 Rotarians in Indonesia to offer cash contributions for the Japan victims. Instantaneously, some Rotary Clubs are also giving donations to this humanitarian efforts. 

Why Rotarians in Indonesia are responding to Japan disaster?

Indonesians are recipients of so many donations and financial assistance from Japan. Specific examples include the recent earthquake in Jogjakarta were many Japanese Rotarians contribute millions of money to rebuild houses, musholla, and school facilities.. In addition, our brothers in Banda Aceh,  who were victims of tsunami ,were also recipient of millions of dollars to address the reconstructions of houses and infrastructures

Even without any disaster in Indonesia, many Rotarians from Japan were very generous in helping the poor people in Indonesia such as providing equipment to hospitals, clean water in the rural areas, and schooling for the poor children.

Indonesians owe a lot from the generous heart of  Japanese community. And today, as we watched the horror of tsunami it is just fitting for Rotarians in Indonesia to offer magnanimously our hearts to our friends who were victims of this merciless & dreaded tsunami.

What is the essence of Rotary organization?

Rotarians are group of professional service volunteers whose aim is to promote peace and understanding to human being irrespective of their colors, skin, beliefs, and language. Indeed, it is an institution that cares for the less fortunate people particularly the victims of disasters.

Rotary’s motto of “ Service-Above Self “ is a God-given gift of helping the poor people. Rotarians are not interested in personal recognition nor any material rewards . Its focus is to share and help the less fortunate people.   Rotarians are professional who care  for the interest of the disadvantaged sector of our society.

Today, Rotarians are donating their personal money without knowing specifically who will be the recipient. What is important is that their money contribution will help in the upliftment of the sufferings of the victims.  Rotarians do this humanitarian effort to foster friendship and fellowship which eventually will bring mutual respect & benefit among the peoples of different nations.

Conclusion

The community of Rotarians  offer our prayer that our Japanese friends will quickly recover from this terrifying disaster and Rotarians throughout the world will continue their best to easen the burden of  disaster victims in Japan. Certainly, our hearts for those who lost their lives in tsunami.

by

Rodolfo Balmater - Past District Governor

Rotary Club Jakarta Gambir