The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the public health risk from Japan's radiation leak appeared to be "quite low", however the WHO network of medical experts is ready to assist if requested
Mark Mackinnon, Canada's Globe and Mail's corro who is in Sendai, reports that bodies are still being dug out of the rubble at Sendai airport and aftershocks have been going on throughout the day.
The Chinese government will offer emergency humanitarian aid worth of 30 million yuan to the Japanese government for their relief efforts. The first batch of materials will be sent from Shanghai to Japan this afternoon. - ReliefWeb
Save the Children has sent emergency response teams to assess the needs of children and their families in the worst affected tsunami areas between Miyagi Prefecature and Tokyo. Stephen McDonald, Save the Children's team leader in Japan said evacuations centers are being established in the area and along the tsunami-affected coast to accommodate people, and it will be important that children's needs are met while parents register for help and assistance from authorities.
From Medecins sans Frontieres: The MSF team sent to the area devastated by the earthquake and resulting tsunamis in northeast Japan continues to assist in the massive government-led relief effort. “On Sunday, we conducted mobile clinics and assessments in two evacuation centres,” said Mikiko Dotsu, the coordinator of the team. “It appears that medical needs are increasing in evacuation centres,” said Mikiko.
The situation remains difficult for the survivors of the disaster, with large swathes of the prefecture still without water or electricity. The MSF teams will focus on the needs of more vulnerable people, including the elderly and young children, as well as people suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.
Aid agencies Care International and World Vision have both said they will assist the ongoing emergency relief efforts in Japan, although they usually work in developing countries. World Vision UK chief executive Justin Byworth said: “There is a precedent. Even the US needed support from aid agencies after New Orleans was struck by Hurricane Katrina – and World Vision helped after the Kobe earthquake in Japan in 1995.
