Embassy, associations support earthquake-affected Vietnamese in Japan

The meeting saw the participation of the Consuls General of Vietnam in Osaka and Fukuoka, Vietnamese associations in localities such as Gunma, Chiba, Niigata, Hokkaido, Fukushima, Nagasaki, and the Vietnamese Business Association in Japan, Vietnamese Intellectual Association in Japan, Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Japan, and representatives of volunteer groups in Fukui and Toyama.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said that the earthquake on January 1 caused severe consequences in Ishikawa prefecture, central Japan, leaving residents there in a difficult situation.

He said after the earthquake, some Vietnamese volunteers were active in supporting and providing essential supplies to the Vietnamese affected by the earthquake.

According to him, the support work must be implemented quickly and transparently and in the long term. In the next two to three days, activities should focus on providing food, water, and shelter.

Nguyen Hong Son, chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan, said that more than 5,000 Vietnamese people are living in Ishikawa province, of which about 600 are working in companies in the Noto peninsula area that was hard hit by the earthquake in Ishikawa prefecture.

A report from the Ishikawa authority said there has been no casualties among the Vietnamese community there recorded due to the earthquake.

Son called for support for the Vietnamese community there as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Vietnamese association in Saitama prefecture proposed establishing an formation board to swiftly provide information on those who need support.

The association is ready to implement a support package of about JPY2 million (more than US$13,800) for the reconstruction and purchase of new microwave ovens and refrigerators to replace those damaged by the earthquake.