Due to the cold wave that has been hitting Japan since early February, the areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake have also been hit by heavy snowfall. AAR Japan (Association for Aid and Relief, Japan) is providing support by distributing warm clothes and winter clothing to users and staff of welfare facilities for the people with disabilities and foreign survivors to help them overcome the harsh winter conditions.

Heavy snow has been falling in Ishikawa Prefecture since early February, with snowfall two to four times more than that of a normal year. In the downtown area of Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, where AAR’s Noto Office is located, snow has accumulated to the point where car tires are buried, with local residents saying that this is the heaviest snowfall in recent years. Many people were seen helping to push cars out of the streets as they became stuck one after another.

A man who had been receiving support from AAR since the earthquake said, “The snow on the roof is falling and squeezing the windows of my house. The windowpanes are likely to break.” AAR has responded by helping with snow removal.

Since October 2024, AAR has been distributing winter clothes to help people affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake to overcome the severe winter. So far, AAR has distributed 221 pieces of winter clothing to 18 welfare facilities for the people with disabilities and employment support offices, 260 pieces to foreign survivors including technical intern trainees, 69 pieces to people living in evacuation centers, and 1,160 pieces to temporary housing residents in the city through the Nanao City Community Support Center.

AAR distributed sleeping bags and down jackets donated by be-s Co.,Ltd. and thermal underwear donated by UNIQLO CO.,LTD. through Japan Platform.

Ms. Tamura, the head of the welfare facility for people with disabilities, said, “These winter clothes are very warm. We used to have a hard time working outside, but these clothes help us. We are also grateful to receive sleeping bags that allows us to stretch out arms and legs. With these supplies we feel secured next time something happens.”

A staff member at a facility that provides employment support to people with disabilities said, “After the earthquake, some people were evacuated here, but we were unable to provide them with sufficient bedding and warm clothes. We are grateful for the items provided this time because they can be used as emergency supplies and support evacuees.”

In February, with the cooperation of the Noto Town Office, AAR made individual visits to foreign residents of the town to deliver thermal underwear. At that time, there were some foreign survivors who did not understand Japanese well and were having difficulty adjusting to the local community, and we also responded by connecting them to town office support and Japanese language classes in neighboring towns.

When distributing supplies, AAR also interviews the survivors about their living conditions and daily problems in order to provide necessary support and to prepare them for the next disaster. AAR is particularly attentive to the needs of foreign survivors, who often have difficulty in obtaining necessary information and receiving the support they are supposed to receive.

Although it is now March, the Noto area is still suffering from severe cold weather. AAR will continue its community-based support activities so that those affected by the earthquake can welcome spring with peace of mind. We would like to ask for your continued support for AAR’s assistance to the survivors of the Noto earthquake.