The
Japan Emergency Team operates on community support and, in principle,
volunteers who take part in projects are responsible for their own expenses.
Call JET at:
03-3435-8017
The Japan Emergency Team (JET) is
the only non-profit, non-governmental disaster relief organization in
Japan.
JET began in 1989 when 38 students from
Chuo University went overseas to help in the wake of the San Francisco
earthquake, thus representing the first international relief effort
made by any Japanese group.
Since then, that core group of students
has grown more than twelve times its original size-- making our team
network close to 500 volunteers.
Students from thirty different universities
as well as young workers throughout Japan now make up the foundation
on which JET operates.
Since its inception, JET has responded
to many man-made and natural catastrophes worldwide.
Our efforts include sending food, medical
and other need-specified supplies and volunteers.
JET usually cooperates with organizations
already at the origin of disaster and provides ancillary and/or direct
manpower support.
For example, in the past we have made
surveys and on-site reports, sent and distributed relief goods, participated
in reconstruction activities and have volunteered in refugee camps.
We were the first relief group to arrive
in Kobe after the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck on January 17, 1995
and became the sole NGO invited to work in the governmentｹs Central
Disaster Relief Center.
In addition to providing relief supplies
and physical labor, JET established a search system for earthquake victims
to help family members and friends within Japan and overseas locate
loved ones in the devastated area.
CNN, BBC and NHK aired our worldwide,
toll-free number and we answered inquiries 24 hours a day&emdash;within
the first two weeks alone we received an excess of 2,000 calls!
At present we are still have lines open
dealing with questions and problems related to the Hanshin earthquake.
Up to now, The Japan Emergency Team has
carried out 40 operations. A list of our past and present projects is available.
