Humanity in times of hardship

"We urgently need information on those who are missing in the areas circled below, or who are unreachable, or who are in shelters without internet access and unable to contact anyone." These were the words of Nguyen Chi Thanh Duoc, a volunteer group who went to the Ishikawa earthquake zone (Japan) to assist Vietnamese people in need following the devastating earthquake at the beginning of 2024.

Connecting with Thanh Duoc wasn't easy. Initially, it was just hurried, intermittent text messages because the areas Thanh Duoc visited were in regions with weak signal. "We formed a group to help people. Our journey has been going on since January 3rd and has been almost non-stop. The relief efforts are still ongoing because there are still Vietnamese people who need help. Everyone supports each other voluntarily because everyone has to arrange their family and work schedules," Thanh Duoc shared over the phone. The volunteer group's journey finally came to an end on January 19th.

A group of volunteers arrived in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, to assist residents after the earthquake. Photo: NGUYEN DUOC

Ishikawa Prefecture has over 5,000 Vietnamese people, of whom about 600, mostly trainees, are working in companies or factories in the Noto Peninsula area. Most of these trainees are visiting Japan for the first time and lack experience in dealing with earthquakes and tsunamis. This is partly why, when an earthquake occurs, they are confused and frightened, not knowing what to do or where to go.

When the earthquake struck, many Vietnamese trainees from vulnerable areas appealed for help from the community. Many workers even lost contact with their families. Driven by a spirit of mutual support, Thanh Duoc decided to help his fellow countrymen. He and some friends gathered, planned assistance, and prepared food and water. Along with that came many warm hearts ready to contribute. Some donated water, others brought boxes of biscuits, and some even transported entire truckloads of supplies from Tokyo to contribute to the relief effort for the disaster-stricken region.

The journey, which lasted over two weeks, was fraught with difficulties. The weather was freezing, many roads were damaged by landslides, internet access was disrupted, and maps were unavailable in many areas. Some regions were almost completely isolated, inaccessible by car and only accessible on foot. Thanh Duoc's team had to navigate their own way, encouraging each other to overcome the challenges and deliver aid to 200 victims in Ishikawa. With the motto of helping those in need, the team not only focused on Vietnamese people but also assisted local residents facing hardship. Even in remote areas, if they knew there were Vietnamese people living there, the team would find their way to help them contact their relatives.

The support team arrived in Ishikawa Prefecture. Photo: Nguyen Duoc

From the very beginning, the group sought refuge in the town of Wajima and found seven Vietnamese female trainees staying there. Small but meaningful gifts were given, and although the internet access was only temporary, it was a great source of encouragement for them to send messages of safety back home.

There were also other volunteer groups willing to go into the epicenter without fear of danger. A kitchen run by a Vietnamese volunteer group was set up in a refugee camp in Ishikawa Prefecture, providing free meals to those evacuated due to the earthquake. In addition, relief supplies from agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals were delivered to the Vietnamese community and local residents. Relief shipments from the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Osaka Consulate General, and Vietnamese communities in various locations across Japan also poured into Ishikawa Prefecture. Calls for volunteers to participate in relief efforts on numerous social media accounts of Vietnamese people in Japan were met with strong support.

To ensure everything ran as smoothly as possible, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan took the lead in coordinating the relief efforts of the Vietnamese community, aiming to effectively utilize collective resources, avoid duplication, and prevent disruption to the Japanese side's operations. This not only warmed the hearts of the Vietnamese people but also left a deep impression and gratitude on the Japanese people towards the Vietnamese community living and working in their second homeland.

THANH HANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tinh-nguoi-trong-hoan-nan-post723635.html