Embassy, associations coordinate to support earthquake-affected Vietnamese in Japan

Buildings in ruins in Wajima City of the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa. — XINHUA/VNA Photo

TOKYO — The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan on January 6 held an online meeting with Vietnamese associations to discuss coordination to support Vietnamese people affected by the earthquake that hit central Japan recently.

The meeting saw the participation of the Consuls General of Việt Nam 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 Phạm Quang Hiệu 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 the ambassador, 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.

Nguyễn Hồng Sơn, 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. — VNS