SEATTLE– Various Northwest-based relief organizations are mobilizing to help victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

World Vision, based in Federal way, Wash., is working closely with authorities in Tokyo, asking what kind of resources they can provide.

(KING 5, NWCN, the American Red Cross and U.S. Bank have activated "Disaster in Japan: Northwest Response." you can find more information on how to donate here.)

“Something this large is not something that people would have experienced before, so it’s a completely new experience,” World Vision Senior Director Rachel Wolff, who grew up in Japan said. “certainly even in Tokyo people have been very frightened.”

However, World Vision is not solely focusing its relief efforts to Japan. the organization is also sending aid to the Philippines and Indonesia.

“when you have a country with building codes like Japan, then you have to quickly turn to other countries in the region which are much less prepared, and that’s where we’re also turning our eyes to today,” Wolff said.

Donations to World Vision’s disaster response fund can be made at its website.

Other Seattle area relief agencies are also on standby.

"I’ve never seen anything like it," said Christopher Tompkins, head of the International Medical Assistance Team in Everett.

Tompkins and six other doctors, nurses and paramedics are waiting for word from Japan on whether their assistance will be needed.

"it looks like we will be needed," Tompkins said. "In what capacity we aren’t sure, but we’re ready."

Other agencies are mobilizing financially, by setting up websites and text messaging for people to make donations to the relief efforts. you can text the word "JAPAN" or "QUAKE" to 80888 to make a $10 donation to the Salvation Army. the donation will appear on your phone bill.

"Right now the best way to help is financially," said Bev Walker with the American Red Cross of Snohomish County.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord is also waiting, ready to fly and offer supplies or other assistance.

Watch for scams

There are also those who would use this disaster to take advantage of people who want to help.

Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed says make sure a charity is reputable before you donate. you can check his office’s website to see if a charity group is registered with the Secretary of State.

Relief agency links

World Vision: worldvision.org/

Mercy Corps Partnering with Peace Winds Japan: mercycorps.org/

American Red Cross: redcross.org/

International Medical Assistance Team: imateam.org 

TOKYO – Japanese Hepatitis B sufferers thought to have caught the disease from repeated use of needles during a vaccination programme have agreed to settle a dispute with the state, at the cost of US$39 billion (S$50 billion).

The decision will bring to an end a series of lawsuits across the country but it will pose the government with a headache as it looks for ways to raise the 3.2 trillion yen (S$50 billion), with the possibility it may have to to raise taxes.

Tokyo had already expressed a readiness to accept the proposal, bringing to an end the country’s largest medical dispute that will see it compensate about 430,000 people infected with the potentially fatal disease during decades ago.

“This is a tough decision, but we decided to accept (the proposal) to end this issue swiftly,” the plaintiffs said in a statement issued Saturday.

“We demand that the government learn from this lessen and do the best to solve this problem as soon as possible,” said one of the plaintiffs, Mieko Taniguchi, adding that the court proposal was not enough to rescue everyone.

Earlier this month, the Sapporo District Court proposed that the government pay 12.5-36 million yen in damages to each hepatitis B patient depending on their health condition.

The court has also proposed that the government pay 500,000 yen each to virus carriers who do not show any symptoms yet.

Total 630 people have filed damages suits with 10 district courts across Japan, arguing that the government should be held responsible for the mass infections as it failed to take necessary measures.

TOKYO ? Japanese Hepatitis B sufferers thought to have caught the disease from repeated use of needles during a vaccination program have agreed to settle a dispute with the state, at the cost of $39 billion.

The decision will bring to an end a series of lawsuits across the country but it will pose the government with a headache as it looks for ways to raise the 3.2 trillion yen, with the possibility it may have to raise taxes.

Tokyo had already expressed a readiness to accept the proposal, bringing to an end the country’s largest medical dispute that will see it compensate about 430,000 people infected with the potentially fatal disease during decades ago.

“This is a tough decision, but we decided to accept (the proposal) to end this issue swiftly,” the plaintiffs said in a statement issued Saturday.

“We demand that the government learn from this lessen and do the best to solve this problem as soon as possible,” said one of the plaintiffs, Mieko Taniguchi, adding that the court proposal was not enough to rescue everyone.

Earlier this month, the Sapporo District Court proposed that the government pay 12.5-36 million yen in damages to each hepatitis B patient depending on their health condition.

The court has also proposed that the government pay 500,000 yen each to virus carriers who do not show any symptoms yet.

Total 630 people have filed damages suits with 10 district courts across Japan, arguing that the government should be held responsible for the mass infections as it failed to take necessary measures.

Hepatitis B sufferers decided Saturday to accept a court-proposed settlement plan of lawsuits they filed against the government on condition the state offers them apologies and blanket compensation, they said.

The move will help end a series of damages suits filed across Japan by hepatitis B patients and virus carriers believed infected due to repeated use of needles during group vaccinations decades ago, as the state has already expressed its readiness to accept the Sapporo District Court’s proposal that it pay compensation to both patients and carriers.

‘‘This is a tough decision, but we decided to accept (the proposal) to swiftly end this issue,’’ the plaintiffs said in a statement issued after their meeting in Tokyo.

The government is considering enacting a special law to offer compensation to all the sufferers who are estimated at a maximum of 440,000 across Japan including those who are not involved in the lawsuits.

It remains unclear, however, how the government can secure a total of roughly 3.2 trillion yen, which is estimated to be needed in the next 30 years to offer the relief.

‘‘We have no plans yet at this moment’’ on how to cover the compensation package, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, which he was visiting. ‘‘We are at the final stage of discussions and are trying to develop a good solution.’‘

Earlier this month, the Sapporo District Court proposed that the government pay 12.5 million to 36 million yen in damages to hepatitis B patients depending on their condition as well as 500,000 yen each in compensation plus expenses for health checkups and transportation to asymptomatic carriers who do not develop any symptoms.

The vaccination law was put into effect in 1948 with the aim of preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as diphtheria and tuberculosis, and mass vaccinations began for children at school. Needles are believed to have been used repeatedly until around 1980s.

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