A volunteer from Okinawa Prefecture has set up a website that constantly updates a list of supplies and goods needed by victims of the March 11 quake and tsunami disaster.

Daisuke Sonoda, a 29-year-old diving shop owner, who arrived at Minamisanriku three days after the disaster devastated the town and other northeastern Japan areas, said, "People cannot tell from government websites what and how much other people are shipping."

He said he set up the site after witnessing mismatches in what has been sent from various places and what victims want.

Large quantities of winter clothing and blankets were still being sent to evacuation shelters even in late March and ended up being piled up in a warehouse, he said. "It's a pity to see precious acts of goodwill wasted."

He said he was alerted to the major disaster after a tsunami warning issued in his hometown in Okinawa, roughly 1,900 kilometers southwest of Minamisanriku. Thinking there must be something he could do, he hopped on to a plane to Tokyo and then went to a construction machinery shop in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, to borrow a crane, he said.

He moved further north, making his way by removing overturned cars and rubble on the road with the crane, while entrusting his diving shop to a friend, he said.

To provide sustained support, he has set up a volunteer organisation called "earth one" with friends and inaugurated the up-to-date list of goods in need.

The list is designed to be updated after information is provided by senders about the quantity and the items being sent. Sonoda is hoping that the list, currently being tested in Minamisanriku, will be expanded to cover other areas.

Many volunteers working in Minamisanriku have lost relatives in the tidal wave. "All of them are working for reconstruction even though they have lost someone important in the tsunami," Sonoda said. "If I were in their position, I probably would ignore work completely." (Ky