Japan: MSF Teams Trying to Reach Areas Battered by Earthquake

Following the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunamis that hit northeast Japan on Friday afternoon, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has two three-person teams attempting to get to the worst-hit areas in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.

Access to the area by land is currently blocked by the flooding caused by the tsunamis. The MSF teams, which are comprised of medical and logistics personnel, will try to reach the area by helicopter. Once there, the teams will liaise with local emergency response authorities to assess medical needs. Another 25 MSF medical and logistical staff in Japan are on standby to respond once the situation has been assessed.