{
  "title": "Sendai: A Tale of Natural Disaster, Resilience, and Recovery",
  "publication": "IMF Blog, October 11, 2012",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2012/10/11/sendai-a-tale-of-natural-disaster-resilience-and-recovery",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2012/10/11/sendai-a-tale-of-natural-disaster-resilience-and-recovery",
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  "summary": "Japan was struck by the country’s largest ever recorded earthquake on March 11, 2011.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Event and immediate impacts",
      "content": "- Japan was struck by the country’s largest ever recorded earthquake on March 11, 2011.\n- Within an hour, parts of Japan’s northeast coast were hit by a tsunami that swept away cars, boats, trains, buildings, roads—and thousands of lives.\n- The author visited areas most affected more than 18 months on, during a \"Sendai Dialogue\" cohosted by the Government of Japan and the World Bank as part of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Tokyo."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Field observations around Sendai",
      "content": "- Arahama Elementary School:\n  - School remained in its wrecked state, with debris strewn across the grounds and corridors and classrooms in ruins.\n  - Successful evacuation: children were evacuated straight after the quake and airlifted out by helicopter as the area was being submerged.\n  - Community response: local community and heroic efforts helped; principal reported children of the Tohuko region are \"becoming more cheerful.\"\n- Seaside Park Adventure Field:\n  - Provided a vantage point over a disaster waste treatment area.\n  - The disaster generated some 1.35 million tons of debris from the city.\n  - A three-year project sorts this debris into various categories with the aim of recycling most of it."
    },
    {
      "heading": "IMF role, past responses, and capacity",
      "content": "- IMF responses and tools:\n  - The IMF can provide rapid emergency financing.\n  - The IMF has responded to 42 cases of natural disasters since 1962.\n  - Example: the IMF provided financing to Haiti within three weeks of the earthquake that struck in early 2010.\n  - The IMF provides policy support through regular economic oversight and through financing of programs that help lay the foundation for recovery.\n  - The IMF provides technical assistance to build capacity for recovery.\n- Technical assistance example:\n  - Haiti has received over 35 technical visits from the IMF since early 2010 on topics including revenue administration, financial sector reform, exchange rate policy, and improvement of statistical information.\n- Knowledge sharing:\n  - A paper released during the week draws lessons from seven countries hit by natural catastrophes and how countries can strengthen resilience."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Lessons and policy recommendations highlighted",
      "content": "- Five lessons emphasized at Sendai:\n  - Early warning of disasters.\n  - Flexibility to redeploy spending rapidly.\n  - Coordination between all agencies when disaster strikes.\n  - Transparency in the effective use of assistance.\n  - A growth strategy as an integral part of reconstruction and recovery."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Broader implications and concluding observations",
      "content": "- Natural disasters will continue to occur, and the costs and number of people affected are rising, influenced by growing urbanization and environmental degradation.\n- The Sendai visit and Dialogue offered a valuable opportunity to learn how to strengthen defenses and improve emergency reactions.\n- Human-centered aim: restoring hope—\"I just want our children to be able to hope and dream again,\" said the Arahama school Principal.\n- This goal is shared by all 188 member countries of the IMF and World Bank gathering in Tokyo to discuss global economic challenges.\n\nChristine Lagarde, October 11, 2012\n\n---\n\n\n References\n\n- IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings\n- https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/sendai-5.jpg\n- https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/sendai-6.jpg\n- Haiti\n- technical assistance\n- paper released this week\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2012/10/11/sendai-a-tale-of-natural-disaster-resilience-and-recovery"
    }
  ],
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    "[Markdown version](/en/blogs/articles/2012/10/11/sendai-a-tale-of-natural-disaster-resilience-and-recovery/index.md)",
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    "Authors: Christine Lagarde",
    "Published: October 11, 2012",
    "Japan was struck by the country’s largest ever recorded earthquake on March 11, 2011.",
    "Within an hour, parts of Japan’s northeast coast were hit by a tsunami that swept away cars, boats, trains, buildings, roads—and thousands of lives.",
    "The author visited areas most affected more than 18 months on, during a \"Sendai Dialogue\" cohosted by the Government of Japan and the World Bank as part of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Tokyo.",
    "Arahama Elementary School:",
    "Seaside Park Adventure Field:",
    "IMF responses and tools:",
    "Technical assistance example:",
    "Knowledge sharing:",
    "Five lessons emphasized at Sendai:",
    "Natural disasters will continue to occur, and the costs and number of people affected are rising, influenced by growing urbanization and environmental degradation.",
    "The Sendai visit and Dialogue offered a valuable opportunity to learn how to strengthen defenses and improve emergency reactions.",
    "Human-centered aim: restoring hope—\"I just want our children to be able to hope and dream again,\" said the Arahama school Principal.",
    "This goal is shared by all 188 member countries of the IMF and World Bank gathering in Tokyo to discuss global economic challenges.",
    "[IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings](http://www.imf.org/external/am/2012/index.htm)",
    "[https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/sendai-5.jpg](https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/sendai-5.jpg)",
    "[https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/sendai-6.jpg](https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/sendai-6.jpg)",
    "[Haiti](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/NEW012710A.htm)",
    "[technical assistance](http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/tech.htm)",
    "[paper released this week](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2012/NEW101012A.htm)"
  ],
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