Radiation: Damage you can not see with your eyes

This past week, I participated in a program in Aizuwakamatsu- to play with kids who were living in the emergency shelters in Fukushima.

During the orientation of the program, I was told there were approximately 7,000 people living in the shelters in Aizu. Even though three months has gone by since March 11th, many are still being forced to live in shelters, mainly due to the nuclear plant crisis at Fukushima Daiichi.

Some of the families in evacuation here have houses standing, unaffected by the earthquake and tsunami.  Yet, they have left everything as they have been forced to evacuate due to the high radiation levels.

Many were told they only needed to evacuate for a week. But the one week has prolonged to weeks, to months. And now...three months. 

Some have not even gone home once since the natural disaster struck. Some were effected by all three: the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation.

And nobody knows when they will be able to return to their homes.

Playing with the kids in the numerous evacuation shelters in Aizu, seeing the kids smile and laugh, I sometimes forgot that these children are those who are being forced to live here. Kids who lost their homes, kids who have been forced to say farewell to their friends.

But I would snap back to reality. As I would overhear the adults talking about the radiation levels, about when they can go home, about the distance of their homes from Fukushima Daiichi.

A grandma came to me and sighed,

"There is nothing to do here. I just want to go home..."

And even the kids made me aware of the situation.

A little girl playing with a toy house started to take everything out of the house- furniture, dolls, etc. I asked her why she took everything out when she had spent so much time making the house look nice and organized.

"There was an earthquake!" she told me.


Looking at the depressed, fatigued look on the adults in the evacuation shelters, it scared me, how hopeless some of the people were.

I wanted to support the children so that I could make the kids smile, make them happy, despite their current situation. But I don't know whether I was of any help. Because there is SO MUCH more support needed for the people in Fukushima.

The damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami was devastating and destructive. Yet, coming here, I have realized the great fear and damage the radiation has caused. Although you can not see it with your eyes, it has caused great damage to the hearts and lives of the people in Fukushima.

Even though I could only participate for a week, I pray for the health and safety of the the children here. And I wish for their days to be filled with smiles and laughter.  I miss the children, already.

If you are interested, please check out the volunteer program
 for the children in Aizu through the NICE website.