Debris

My trip to Sendai has been shocking and moving.

Everywhere are piles of debris like this. As space is cleared so that people can start life again after the tsunami, piles of rubble are created. Each heap, of course, represents many lives; lives that were lost – thousands of them, lives that have been disabled – physically and mentally, livelihoods and homes  - years of care lying broken.

As I travelled around the area, things I had heard talked about began to make sense and the extent of the need in these many communities became clear. There must indeed be many people who will simply despair and take refuge in the bright new bars and gambling establishments that seem to be in business already. Many families and individuals are still in temporary shelters and there will be snow by the end of the month here.  I watched an older couple cycle around an area that was once a suburb and is now completely cleared except for the ruin of a school, they looked woeful and confused.

So eight months on, don’t forget the people of NE Japan, it will take years to recover and some people will never be the same again.

Steve

Steve Pearce | Partnership Coordinator Asia and the Pacific | World Church Relationships

Christian Communication, Evangelism & Advocacy Cluster | The Connexional Team

020 7467 5161 (Direct line)

 

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