Media advisory towards 1 year anniversary
Psychosocial Support Programme for the residents in temporary homes etc.

2012/02/03

Japanese Red Cross would like to update you on several activites/events which might be of interest to you as you plan your coverage of the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake/Tsunami and nuclear accident.

1.Smile Park in Fukushima

For small children who have been unable to play outside, Japanese Red Cross will open an indoor playground.

Place: Fukushima Youth Centre
Address: 53-5, Aza Tabeya, Kuroiwa, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture

Dates: 8 - 16 February
Open hours: 10:00 am - 16:00 pm
Activities:
- Slides, trampoline, jungle gym, „ball pool“
- Kids exercise with instructor (week days afternoon only)
- Reading books, and singing songs (week days afternoon only)
- Stage show by popular entertainer for kids (weekends only)

2.Psychosocial Support Programme (PSP) for the residents in temporary homes

Japanese Red Cross is running psychosocial support activities such as tea parties, relaxation activities (massage and stretching) and so on. This activity aims to help particularly elderly residents get out of their homes, and build stronger community ties in order to combat loneliness and physical inactivity, which doctors warn can lead to“disuse syndrome“. (For exact location, please contact the Japanese Red Cross.)

Place: Iwaki City, in Fukushima Prefecture
Date: 7th February

Place: Minami Souma City, in Fukushima Prefecture
Date: 28th February

Place: Tagajyo City, in Miyagi Prefecture
Date: 11, 25th February

Place: Miyako City, In Iwate Prefecture
Date: Every Saturday

3.Medical care for people making temporary home visits into 20-30km exclusion zone

Japanese Red Cross Medical Team is ready to take care of the people who get sick or injured while making temporary visits. Our team is not there to take care of radiation-related problems specifically, but more general health issues. The media can enter only to designated area, but our Director from Fukushima Chapter will be available to explain the situation and our activities.

Place: Bajikouen
Address:Haramachi ward, Minami Souma City
Date:11-12, 15-19, 22-26 in February, 1-4, 7-9 in March.
Time: 9 am to 4 pm (between those hours, anytime is fine)

- Please be advised that you need to organize your own interpreter if needed and transport.
- We are happy for media to film/interview Red Cross staff/volunteers, but if you want to interview survivors, you need to ask for the individuals‘ permission.
- It would be helpful if you could give us the following information at least one week in advance, if you are interested in filming our activities:
(1) Number of people and contact person/number
(2) Name of the show or programme on which our activites are to be showed and time to be aired.


Japanese Red Cross Society / Planning and Communication Office
Sayaka Matsumoto (s-matsumoto@jrc.or.jp)
Asuka Suzuki (as-suzuki@jrc.or.jp)
Tel: +81-3-3437-7071 | Mob: +81-90-7820-2173


International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies/Regional Communications Delegate, East Asia
Francis Markus (francis.markus@ifrc.org)
Tel: +86 10 6532 7162 ex 13 | Mob: +86 139 100 96892