AAR Japan (Association for Aid and Relief, Japan) is supporting welfare facilities for people with disabilities in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, which was hit by a “double disaster” due to the earthquake in January and heavy rainfall last month, in cooperation with the authorized NPO “Ishikawa Barrier-Free Tour Center” (Kanazawa City). Here is a report from the field.

At the workplace for the hearing impaired, 14 people in their 10s to 70s, including those with intellectual disabilities, work on rubber bagging, Japanese sandal making, and other tasks. Flooding caused by heavy rains made it impossible to use work tables, chairs, lockers, and other equipment. However, users expressed a strong desire, including 19-year-old male user’s voice “I want to get back to work as soon as possible.” Therefore, they managed to reopen the workplace after one week by gathering necessary equipment from the neighborhood.

When the disaster struck, Ms. Sato, the director of the workplace , was unable to move due to the flooding around her home in Suzu City, and had no choice but to confirm the safety of the users through the Noto Town fire brigade. Fortunately, all the users were safe, but “I was worried because many of the affected residents had finally settled into temporary housing after a long period of evacuation following the New Year’s disaster. I think it was especially difficult for those who are persons with hearing difficulties to get information during a disaster,” she said. Although the workplace has reopened, the working environment is not as good as before. AAR plans to support full recovery by providing necessary equipment and repairing the facility.

A residential facility in Suzu City, where 30 elderly residents live, has had water cut off in common areas and offices after heavy rains (as of October 2, 2024). They also accepted evacuees from adjacent temporary housing units and provided them with all their stockpiles of food and drinking water. They needed to have these items quickly, and the AAR emergency team procured and delivered them. A staff member said, “We were living in a state of isolation and anxiety. Thanks to your support, we can take care of all the residents with peace of mind.”

In the Noto region, which suffered flood damage following the earthquake, support for “double disaster victims” has become a new challenge. A small workplace in Monzen-machi, Wajima City, is facing an additional shortage of manpower because the staff’s residence in the city was damaged by the heavy rain, in addition to a continuing shortage of workers since the earthquake. The staff members are concerned that they may have to consider closing the workplace temporarily if the situation continues.

At a community activity support center in Anamizu-machi, transportation for users living in temporary housing became even more difficult due to the flooding. In order to resume their commute to the facility, they have asked if they could have assistance with transportation.

AAR is engaged in support activities mainly for welfare facilities for the persons with disabilities and elderly, who are in particularly difficult situations when disasters occur. The Noto region has been hit by a double disaster in a matter of months, with a massive earthquake and flooding, and is now in the severe situation of having to evacuate from temporary housing once again.

AAR is listening to the individual circumstances of the victims and delivering needed support. We would like to ask again for your cooperation in supporting the areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and heavy rain.