A week has passed since the Noto Peninsula earthquake occurred, and more than 120 people have lost their lives so far, with many still unaccounted for. AAR Japan has also started to support foreign victims who were left behind.

There is no one nearby to rely on

AAR is providing emergency support in cooperation with welfare networks and other aid organizations in the affected areas. At the request of YOU-I (Nonoichi City, Ishikawa Prefecture), a non-profit organization that supports foreign nationals and Japanese nationals those who obtained Japanese nationality living in Ishikawa Prefecture, AAR visited Asian nationals evacuees living at home.

“Immediately after the earthquake, I went to an evacuation center at a nearby elementary school and received relief supplies only once. But I couldn’t receive anything after that because I had to go back to my apartment for work, so I contacted YU-I and got some cup noodles and other things.”

Mokkow, who is from Indonesia, lives with three others from Nepal who also work in agriculture. AAR handed bottled water, retort-packed rice, curry, and canned food to the four people．Mokkow said ,”Terima kasibanyak! (Thank you very much)”.He looked a little relieved.

Information on government assistance is not well known

“At first we evacuated to a nearby elementary school, but it was full of people, so we had no choice but to return to our apartment to live.”Ms. Leti and Mr. Quat, both from Vietnam, have been on “standby at home” since the hotel where they worked was closed due to the earthquake.In about two weeks, I will be transferred to another place of work, so I plan to move, but until then, I have to survive here somehow,” they said with grim expressions on their faces.

Since they had no information about support from the government or aid organizations, AAR handed them drinking water and provided them with contact information for the Nanao City Hall and YU-I.According to the city office, the Community Development Support Division is the point of contact for consultation on daily life for foreign residents, but such information was not well known and no inquiries have come in since the earthquake.

AAR will continue to provide support to foreign residents in addition to the support to welfare facilities for people with disabilities in the affected areas, which has been our focus so far. We would like to ask for your cooperation in AAR’s emergency support for the Noto Peninsula earthquake.