People from various countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, live in the areas affected by the Kumamoto earthquake, but language barriers and other obstacles continue to make it difficult for them to receive necessary support. AAR Japan (Association for Aid and Relief, Japan) is delivering relief supplies and information to foreign residents in Yatsushiro City and Hikawa Town, while also working to build relationships with foreign communities to expand support.

A Hiragana Banner as a Landmark

At the distribution site opened on August 8 on the grounds of the bar “BAR.BASE” in Hikawa Town, AAR set up a large banner reading “mono wo kubaru tokoro” (“place where goods are distributed”) in hiragana, making it easier for foreign residents who are unfamiliar with Japanese to recognize. In addition to Japanese preserved foods, the site offers halal-certified products that Muslim residents can safely accept, as well as canned goods and retort-pouch foods from Southeast Asia, all of which—along with hygiene supplies—are available free of charge.

A group of Indonesian residents who came upon the banner picked up dry curry and chili sauce, leaving with smiles on their faces. AAR has also placed relief supplies at “PHO VIET,” a Vietnamese restaurant in Yatsushiro City, allowing foreign residents who visit to freely take what they need. A Vietnamese woman who came by said, “We’re all helping each other get through this difficult time. We’re grateful for this support.”

Building Connections with Foreign Communities

AAR is also reaching out to foreign communities in the disaster-affected areas. At first, it was difficult even to determine where these communities were located or who lived there. However, through people encountered at the two distribution sites, we have built connections with communities such as Vietnamese workers employed by local agricultural organizations. Working together with the Kumamoto Foreign Resident Support Center and other partners, AAR has been delivering water, food, and other relief supplies to foreign disaster survivors and communities identified through these referrals, while also gathering information about the support they need and the difficulties they face.

As these connections have grown, the requests AAR received have become more specific. One example is a request from foreign residents who feel uncomfortable using public bathing facilities such as hot springs, asking for private shower facilities where they can bathe individually.

Going forward, AAR plans to connect its support for foreign survivors to medium- to long-term recovery. We will continue emergency efforts to ensure that support reaches all disaster survivors. We kindly ask for your continued cooperation with AAR’s Kumamoto earthquake emergency response.