ID :
186459
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 18:42
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/186459
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ASEAN goodwill caravan comforts disaster victims with food, music
ISHINOMAKI, Japan, June 4 Kyodo -
A ''goodwill caravan'' consisting of about 70 members from 10 Southeast Asian nations on Saturday comforted survivors of the March 11 devastating earthquake and tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, as they served ethnic foods, gave music and dance performances and engaged in clean-up activities.
The group led by Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also included Indonesian and Thai survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and tried to share the pain and loss of people in the city on the Pacific coast, which was among the areas worst affected by the calamity.
Surin, who engaged in mud removal operations at an evacuation shelter and sang with other ASEAN volunteer workers in Ishinomaki, told reporters that the caravan, which was agreed upon during a foreign ministerial meeting of Japan and the regional bloc in April, is intended ''to assure what we call human bonding and heart-to-heart gesture.''
The secretary general also recited in English the poem titled ''Undaunted by Rain'' by Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) from Iwate Prefecture, to express the sympathy of about 600 million people in ASEAN countries to Japanese disaster victims.
Arif Arham, a 34-year-old tsunami survivor from Ache, said he joined the ASEAN youth caravan to return the favor as Indonesia received support from the world, including Japan, when it was struck by the catastrophe in December 2004.
''I thought it was my turn to pay back,'' said Arham, a public servant in Ache, who scooped out odor-emitting mud with a shovel. ''I know how victims feel, and I wanted to just visit and maybe share the same feeling.''
He said the traces of tidal waves left on buildings in Ishinomaki reminded him of what happened in Indonesia and expressed hope that lessons can be learned from the major disasters that struck the Asian region to prevent future tragedies.
The volunteer workers also served Thai noodles, Vietnamese coffee and ''satay'' skewered meat eaten widely in ASEAN countries to local residents and entertained them with music and dance performances by students and artists.
Kazumi Sato, a 34-year-old mother of three who lives in a heavily damaged house in Ishinomaki, said she appreciated the food served by the ASEAN caravan, adding her children had only been offered bread and milk at schools until recently.
''We are glad as we ate something unique today. The event is like a festival and my kids enjoyed it,'' she said.
Thai actress Khemanit Jamikorn, who is known by the nickname ''Pancake,'' said she hopes her participation in the caravan will raise awareness of ASEAN youth on the condition of Japan and help recover the number of Thai visitors to the country.
''Many Thai people are scared to come here because of many reasons. But today I came here and I can say everything is normal and we care and share everything,'' she said.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
==Kyodo
A ''goodwill caravan'' consisting of about 70 members from 10 Southeast Asian nations on Saturday comforted survivors of the March 11 devastating earthquake and tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, as they served ethnic foods, gave music and dance performances and engaged in clean-up activities.
The group led by Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also included Indonesian and Thai survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and tried to share the pain and loss of people in the city on the Pacific coast, which was among the areas worst affected by the calamity.
Surin, who engaged in mud removal operations at an evacuation shelter and sang with other ASEAN volunteer workers in Ishinomaki, told reporters that the caravan, which was agreed upon during a foreign ministerial meeting of Japan and the regional bloc in April, is intended ''to assure what we call human bonding and heart-to-heart gesture.''
The secretary general also recited in English the poem titled ''Undaunted by Rain'' by Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) from Iwate Prefecture, to express the sympathy of about 600 million people in ASEAN countries to Japanese disaster victims.
Arif Arham, a 34-year-old tsunami survivor from Ache, said he joined the ASEAN youth caravan to return the favor as Indonesia received support from the world, including Japan, when it was struck by the catastrophe in December 2004.
''I thought it was my turn to pay back,'' said Arham, a public servant in Ache, who scooped out odor-emitting mud with a shovel. ''I know how victims feel, and I wanted to just visit and maybe share the same feeling.''
He said the traces of tidal waves left on buildings in Ishinomaki reminded him of what happened in Indonesia and expressed hope that lessons can be learned from the major disasters that struck the Asian region to prevent future tragedies.
The volunteer workers also served Thai noodles, Vietnamese coffee and ''satay'' skewered meat eaten widely in ASEAN countries to local residents and entertained them with music and dance performances by students and artists.
Kazumi Sato, a 34-year-old mother of three who lives in a heavily damaged house in Ishinomaki, said she appreciated the food served by the ASEAN caravan, adding her children had only been offered bread and milk at schools until recently.
''We are glad as we ate something unique today. The event is like a festival and my kids enjoyed it,'' she said.
Thai actress Khemanit Jamikorn, who is known by the nickname ''Pancake,'' said she hopes her participation in the caravan will raise awareness of ASEAN youth on the condition of Japan and help recover the number of Thai visitors to the country.
''Many Thai people are scared to come here because of many reasons. But today I came here and I can say everything is normal and we care and share everything,'' she said.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
==Kyodo
