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The Kumamoto Earthquake Report 9:
Coordination, towards a common goal

May 8th 2016

In one of the evacuation centers in Kumamoto-city, there was a news of 23 evacuees suffering from vomiting and stomachache, and there is a concern of group infection of some sort. With more than 1,200 aftershocks already, the risk and fear among the evacuees continue. However, there was also an encouraging news recently that the Kumamoto’s PR character ‘Kuma-mon’ visited nursery school and evacuation center in Mashiki-town operated by YMCA. The character is widely accepted and loved by people in Kumamoto, and it brought many smiles on all those enduring days of hardship at the moment.

In the gymnasium in Mashiki-town, even with few hours I stayed there, there had been many inquiries such as “Hi, I am from doctors’ association in…”, “Where should I carry these relief items…”, “Is there something I can contribute now?”, “I come from a new agency and…”. There are so many agencies, staff from authorities, volunteers, help team from YMCAs all over Japan, and it is really difficult to figure out who is who at a first glance.

Despite the fact that life-saving phase is almost over, the life in evacuation center is far from normal. Health and nutrition concerns continue, and psychological well-being of the evacuees would be a priority issue to tackle.  One of the evacuees, while receiving therapeutic massage from one of the volunteers said, “I am so thankful, to everything people here do”.

Matsuo come from Yokohama YMCA and he heads social welfare facility there. He indicates that “coordination and collaboration are really important for ensuring appropriate living condition in this evacuation center. This needs to happen within local residents, across the agencies, and community as a whole. Everything that one can offer should build up the collective strength.” The role of YMCA here is not only relief provision, but to ensure appropriate coordination mechanism is built so that authorities, Red Cross, doctor’s association, self-defense force, NGOs, and all those involved in the running of the evacuation center work well together.

Okubo, one of the management staff at this evacuation center, told us that “the philosophy of YMCA on the importance of human relationship is applied here also. The reason why we encourage volunteering work by the evacuees is to contribute to their resilience through re-confirmation that everyone has a role to play.” “It may not be appropriate to say this now…” he continued “but, when this evacuation phase is over, we hope that these people say they are glad they were with us.” The evacuation center seems to combine various feelings, skills, roles… but definitely towards a common goal.

You can help the operation on the ground. Please see below:
Emergency appeal of YMCA Japan
Facebook page of Kumamoto YMCA (Japanese only)

Bank Detail Name : The National Council of YMCAs of Japan
Address : 7 Honshio-cho Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo
Beneficiary Bank : THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ,LTD.
Branch Name : YOTSUYA BRANCH
Bank Address : 3-2-1 YOTSUYA SHINJUKU-KU TOKYO
Swift code : BOTKJPJT
Account Number : 051-0111494

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan and the Church World Service Japan are working together as partner for relief activities in Kumamoto Earthquake.

Interviewer and photo taken by: Ryoji Inaba, YMCA Kumamoto
English translation: Takeshi Komino, CWS Japan

Kuma-mon has come to our nursery school!

Therapeutic massage makes an evacuee relaxed

Mr. Matsuo has come from Yokohama YMCA to take a key role in social welrafe facility



Contact
Name The National Council of YMCAs of JAPAN
TEL (+81-3)-5367-6640
FAX (+81-3)-5367-6641
E-mail info@ymcajapan.org