The Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan in 2011

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The Japan 2011 earthquake and tsunami
The earthquake and tsunami in Japan claimed more than 18,000 human lives and more than 120,
000 were left homeless. A lot of buildings that approximate to 110,000 destroyed and
properties worth billions of money lost. The earthquake was unexpected with a magnitude of
9.1. The crisis was so devastating especially because the predictions of the scientists had
prepared people for an earthquake of much smaller magnitude. The article analyzed by Nakajima
et al. describe the crisis that happened on March 11, 2011. The earthquake that happened in
Tohoku, Japan in 2011 was due to the stress released between two tectonic plates that had been
built up for centuries. The Pacific plate in Japan dived underneath the overriding Eurasian plate
which in turn led to an enormous earthquake and tsunami.
According to the article by Nakamura et al. 895, the Tohoku disaster was a triple tragedy;
tsunami, earthquake and the melting down of the nuclear power. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Power Plant cooled as a result of the tsunami leading to failure of the system. The nuclear melted
down and released radioactive materials forcing an immediate evacuation of the towns that were
nearby. The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant design was meant for a tsunami smaller than the
March 2011 tragedy. The accident brought about by the melting of the plant, therefore increased
both long-term and short-term effects of the earthquake and tsunami disaster significantly. This
crisis is described as the worst of all crises since the incident of World War II.

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Humanitarian Aid
The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami happened in March 2011, and as of September 15, 2011, 43
international organizations and 163 countries and regions had offered assistance to Japan
according to Japan’s foreign ministry report (Katzenstein et al. 2). As of March 2012, the areas
that were struck and affected by the disaster had received donations which totaled ¥520 billion.
Several people that approximated to 930,000 volunteered in the efforts to recover disaster
victims and administer medical assistance.
The Japan government made a specific request to other governments such as United States,
United Kingdom and New Zealand as well as South Korea, Canada and Australia. The
governments responded positively with some sending relief funds, rescuers and search dogs,
food, medicine and medical support teams. A country like Canada had staff that was ready with
the expertise of dealing with nuclear materials. The prime minister, therefore, offered chemical,
radiological and equipment for nuclear decontamination. Alongside were disaster victim
identification team and the Canadian Red Cross that ensured a continuous supply of fresh
drinking water to the injured and displaced victims.
The non-governmental organizations also provided humanitarian aid towards the earthquake and
tsunami disaster. Corporations, groups, and individuals from various countries donated relief
foods and recovery efforts. For instance, the Canadian volunteer medical assistance team availed
a medical team, medical supplies and a portable field hospital at the disaster point. The
humanitarian coalition together with the Red Cross also mobilized the Canadian citizens hence
collecting funds towards Japan relief efforts (Kovács et al. 520).The international non-
governmental organization, save the children also responded to the disaster swiftly. They took