Japan earthquake: region on high alert for tsunami
Pacific nations brace for tsunami following 8.9-magnitude quake in Japan
World Vision staff are on high alert across the tsunami impact region, preparing for response and are already working to protect communities in the Philippines.
“Our offices in Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are on alert,” said Geoff Shepherd, World Vision’s Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director for the Asia-Pacific region.
Disaster
“We’ve also alerted our Global Rapid Response Team and have put team members on standby for possible deployment to affected areas. This could be a very serious disaster in multiple countries and our staff are prepared to respond.”
World Vision spokesperson Dominic Nutt said: “Our team in the Philippines is already working with the authorities."
In the coastal town of Palanan, where World Vision has an ongoing relief operation, World Vision staff were the first to notify the local government of the impending tsunami. Local government officials have now identified evacuation sites for community members.
Supplies ready
“Our team has already pre-positioned supplies to support up to 2,000 people,” Mr Nutt added. “My colleagues have told us that many families have played it safe and sought higher ground. We are working with the local government to identify evacuation places for people to go."
World Vision currently has operations in the following countries that have been or maybe affected: Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Mexico, New Zealand, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.