WATARI, JAPAN
One year after a horrific earthquake and tsunami, prominent signs standing amid the miles and miles of devastation and destruction in Japan's Miyagi prefecture send a one-word message of the resiliency of the people: Ganbaru, which means "hold out, stand firm and hang in there."
It is the same message the Church sent over and over again as it distributed immediate relief supplies after the disaster and, 12-months later, continues to support recovery efforts in the country.
Natural disasters across the globe, including the Japan quake, made 2011 the costliest year of disasters on record, according to a report issued by LDS Welfare Services. The first six months of 2011 alone saw $265 billion in economic losses — well above the previous record of $220 billion from 2005, when Hurricane Katrina struck the United States' Gulf Coast.
Japan was 2011's largest disaster, with damages estimated to exceed $235 billion.
"The Church and its members are reaching out and helping those in need," said Lynn Samsel, the Church's director of emergency response.
In Japan, the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and powerful tsunami, which struck March 11, 2011, left 19,000 dead, displaced thousands and destroyed more than 551,000 homes. The Church responded immediately, sending relief supplies to the disaster zone and later helping victims rebuild. The Church's recovery efforts in Japan will continue into the fall of this year, said Brother Samsel. In addition, Church members have donated 175,000 hours of service in Japan. "One of the most significant contributions we make as a Church is the service of our members," he said.
And it is not something that is just happening in Japan.
During 2011, the Church responded to 111 disasters in 50 countries, providing emergency aid and organizing thousands of volunteers to assist those affected.
The Church offered help after earthquakes in 10 separate countries. It also offered assistance to seven countries that suffered flooding. Thailand experienced one of the worst flooding events in the past century, which affected more than 70 percent of the country's population.
In addition, since July 2011, severe drought — one of the worst in 60 years — has impacted Eastern Africa. The drought caused a severe food crisis across Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries in Eastern Africa that threatened the lives of more than 10 million people.
Tornadoes claimed nearly 600 lives in the United States in 2011.
The following information, provided by LDS Welfare Services, describes the Church's five largest responses to 2011 disasters:
Japan earthquake/tsunami
Eastern Africa famine
United States tornadoes
Thailand flooding
Hurricane Irene – United States
The following table lists the countries and regions assisted, along with the types of disasters experienced: (Source: Welfare services)
Afghanistan, War
Argentina, Flooding
Armenia, Flooding
Australia, Flooding
Bahamas, Hurricane
Belize, Flooding
Bolivia, Flooding
Brazil, Flooding, landslides
Cambodia, War, flooding, landslides
Canada, Fires, tornadoes, landslides
China, Earthquake
Cook Islands, Tropical storm
Cote d'Ivoire, War, political unrest
Dominican Republic, Hurricane
Egypt, Refugees
El Salvador, Flooding, landslides
Ethiopia, Famine
Guatemala, Earthquake, flooding, landslides
Haiti, Long-term recovery projects from earthquake
Honduras, Flooding
Israel, Fire
Italy, Flooding
Japan, Earthquake and tsunami
Kenya, Famine, fires
Laos, Flooding
Liberia, Refugees
Libya, Civil unrest, war, refugees
Madagascar, Cyclone
Malaysia, Fire
Namibia, Refugees, food shortage
New Zealand, Earthquake
Nicaragua, Severe weather
Pakistan, Flooding
Paraguay, Flooding
Peru, Severe weather, food shortage
Philippines, Typhoon, flooding, landslide
Russia, Explosion
Serbia, Severe weather
Somalia, Drought, famine
South Africa, Fires, tornado
Spain, Earthquake
Thailand, Flooding
Tonga, Typhoon
Turkey, Earthquake
Uganda, Fire, drought, famine
Ukraine, Fire
United States, Tornadoes, flooding, hurricane, fires
Vanuatu, Hunger
Vietnam ,Flooding
Zimbabwe, Hunger
