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Nuclear threat complicates Japan relief efforts
Mark Kelly, Baptist Press
March 16, 2011
4 MIN READ TIME

Nuclear threat complicates Japan relief efforts

Nuclear threat complicates Japan relief efforts
Mark Kelly, Baptist Press
March 16, 2011

TOKYO — The danger of radiation from damaged nuclear

reactors has greatly complicated Southern Baptist disaster relief efforts in

Japan, one member of the assessment team reported March 15.

BP photo

Relief groups are on a wary standby as Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (standing in March 14 meeting) and other officials of the Asian nation struggle to manage the compounding crisis of a battered nuclear industry along with the 9.0-magnitude earthquake March 11 and subsequent tsunami.

A third explosion at a nuclear plant March 15 exposed fuel rods for several

hours, sending radiation levels soaring to 163 times previous levels, the

United Nations reported. The government responded by ordering people living

within 19 miles of the nuclear complex to stay indoors to avoid exposure.

“The crisis at the nuclear power plant further complicates the situation,” said

one member of the Baptist Global Response (BGR) disaster relief assessment team

who arrived in Tokyo March 12. “Presently our ability to respond to the tsunami

is minimal because access to the coastal areas is severely curtailed as the

government responds to the crises in the area. We are concentrating our

assessment on non-coastal areas where damage was caused by the earthquake.”

The Japan disaster relief situation is unlike any other in recent history,

noted Pat Melancon, BGR’s disaster management specialist.

“When most disasters occur, a single event is normally accompanied by a fairly

set list of accompanying effects. Floods will leave mud, destroy crops, damage

homes, contaminate water supplies and cause sicknesses,” Melancon said. “When

earthquakes occur, you see some of the same results, with additional problems

like interrupted transportation, widespread structural damage or destruction

and the like.

“The Japan event, however, is different. Here we have three catastrophic

events: the earthquake, which did much damage in areas not being featured in

the news; the tsunami, which hit the low coastal areas of Japan especially

hard; and now an additional unfolding event — the demise of nuclear power

plants.”

In a complex humanitarian crisis, different events affect the total situation

in such a way that a response to one event must be considered in context with

the others, Melancon noted.

“Each situation affects the others. The response becomes very complex,”

Melancon said. “You have to identify the most current critical factor in the

response that will diminish the severity of the combined events and begin with

that response. Eventually all the issues will be addressed.

“This event is unlike any other in recent history,” Melancon said. “BGR will

respond methodically, with the aid of Southern Baptists and other Christians

from around the world. To do this effectively, we need your prayers and

support.”

“We all grieve about the images we are seeing on television,” said Jeff Palmer,

executive director of Baptist Global Response. “Our inclination is to jump on a

plane and go. When we have a disaster response, we usually tell people they can

help by praying, giving and going. Right now, the best way they can help is by

praying, giving and waiting.

“This will be a very long-term response,” Palmer said. “We need to let our

experts, trained people and Japanese partners lead us in our efforts.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Kelly is senior writer for Baptist Press. Baptist Global

Response is located on the Internet at www.gobgr.org. The International Mission

Board has established a relief fund for the Japan earthquake. Donations may be

sent to: Office of Finance, International Mission Board, 3806 Monument Ave.,

Richmond, Va. 23230. In the memo line write “Japan Response Fund.” Or visit http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/product/detail/prodID/3352

to give online. For further information call the IMB toll-free at

1-800-999-3113. North Carolina Baptist Men is also collecting funds to help with recovery efforts. Make checks payable to N.C. Baptist Men, P.O. Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512. Designate your check Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Fund.)

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