Comprehensive review of assistance from overseas for the Great East Japan Earthquake

This study organizes and analyzes different forms of assistance provided from overseas for the Great East Japan Earthquake over a one-year period between March 11, 2011 and March 31, 2012. The study surveys both financial and in-kind (material and human resources) forms of assistance received from all countries and regions, international organizations, private entities (non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, private foundations, religious organizations, etc.), and individuals. However, as it would be impossible to cover all relevant information, the study focuses on major forms of assistance and gives an overall view of overseas support to secure a certain degree of accuracy. It should be noted that the figures below have been calculated, while eliminating overlap whenever possible, based on published information of organizations such as Japanese government agencies, foreign embassies, the United Nations, the Japanese Red Cross Society, and various NGOs. Possible margins of error include downward revision due to a small range of overlap, and large-size upward revisions due to information that the study failed to cover, and information that was excluded due to the potential for overlap.

The study indicates that the governments, individuals and groups that made financial and/or in-kind contributions belonged to a total of 174 countries and regions. 43 international organizations also offered assistance. Out of the 174 states and regions, 119 were recipients of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA), and 35 were among the so-called "Least Developed Countries (LDC)" in Asia and Africa.