Provision of logistics assistance in support of Japan’s response to earthquakes in Kumamoto and surrounding areas

This operation expired in July 2016.

On 14th and 16th April 2016, two powerful earthquakes of 6.5 and 7.3 magnitude respectively struck the south-western part of Japan, affecting nearly one million people in Kumamoto, Oita, Fukuoka and Nagasaki prefectures, with Kumamoto the worst affected. According to official figures, the effects of the earthquakes have caused 65 deaths and more than 190,000 evacuees at its peak and resulted in considerable destruction to homes, business and infrastructure, further exacerbated by countless earthquakes and aftershocks that have continued on a daily basis with no sign of abatement.

The Government of Japan has declared a “Disaster of Extreme Severity” and mounted a massive search and rescue as well as relief and recovery operation to respond to this emergency. WFP has been requested by government authorities to provide support in augmenting the government’s logistical capacity, in close coordination with the Japan Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (JVOAD), a national entity comprising the government sector, the NGO/NPO sector, and the private sector supporting this response.

Through this Special Operation, WFP therefore aims to support the Kumamoto prefectural government in their response through the deployment of the logistics and programme experts, to augment the prefectural government’s response to the disaster, including targeted provision of logistics services.