International Medical Corps has received $50,000 from The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in support of its relief efforts following the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11.
“We are deeply grateful to The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their generous support of our emergency response efforts in Japan,” said International Medical Corps President & CEO Nancy Aossey. “While Japan has significant disaster response capacity, the magnitude of this tragedy compelled us to respond, and we are committed to supporting the Japanese government and local organizations in filling critical gaps. This timely gift will allow us to deepen that support, and reach more remote communities in need.”
The donation was announced by James C. Ramos Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians at their third annual Forging Hope Luncheon at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino. The luncheon honors nonprofits and community organizations making a difference in the lives of others.
“The people of Santos Manuel feel deep compassion for the people of Japan,” Ramos said. “While their loss is nearly impossible to measure in human terms, we are confident that the nation of Japan and its people have the courage and resilience to get through this tragedy. We are pleased to join with the rest of the world in offering our assistance and our prayers.”
International Medical Corps’ emergency response teams immediately deployed to Japan following the disaster and have been assessing the needs of isolated coastal villages. Teams are delivering critical supplies including medications, baby food, and communications equipment. The organization will continue to work to fill essential gaps, including psychosocial support to survivors, and if necessary will deploy four medical teams currently on standby. International Medical Corps is also providing logistical support and technical expertise to Japanese health authorities based on more than 25 years of experience in disaster response, including following the 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
San Manuel has contributed some $50 million to charities since 2001. Through partnerships with charitable organizations and community groups, San Manuel honors the ancestral Serrano value of sharing resources with others.
The 9.0 earthquake on March 11 triggered a tsunami that buried many northern towns in a wall of water. Current figures now confirm that nearly 8,300 people died, and another 12,700 are reported missing. There are also more than 2,000 evacuation centers serving the more than 355,000 people who were displaced. It has been described as the largest earthquake on record for Japan.
In addition, explosions and fires at nuclear power plants in northern Japan have compounded the crisis. While progress is reportedly being made to cool the nuclear reactors, higher-than-allowed radiation levels have been detected in milk and certain food products.
International Medical Corps has been a leading responder to emergencies in more than 50 countries, including the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami, 2005 Pakistan earthquake, 2010 Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods.