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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSupporting Car-Based Evacuees: A First for PBV<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Immediately after the mainshock, Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) dispatched staff to Mashiki Town, where the damage was most severe. At the time, overcrowding and deteriorating hygiene in evacuation centers were critical issues. PBV supported the operations of Hiroyasu Elementary School, which housed over 800 residents at its peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notably, we also undertook our first-ever management support for “car-based evacuation” sites. At Grandmesse Kumamoto, where approximately 6,000 people were living in their vehicles, tracking residents and identifying needs was extremely difficult. We began our outreach by distributing relief supplies as a starting point for dialogue. By engaging in careful, one-on-one conversations while prioritizing privacy, we worked to uncover the underlying challenges faced by each individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our activities focused on “emotional needs” that cannot be quantified. For children who were terrified of being under a roof, we established the “Kid\u2019s Plaza.” For mothers needing a moment of peace, we set up a cafe space. By blurring the lines between “supporters” and “survivors,” we moved forward as a family, fostering a sense of unity to overcome the crisis together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Securing proper meals was an urgent priority as infrastructure collapsed. To prevent malnutrition caused by a diet consisting solely of rice balls and bread, PBV dispatched professional cooks and dietitians. We provided warm, vegetable-centered meals and consciously utilized local supermarkets and ingredients from Kumamoto to support the regional economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, “resident-led management” was essential for long-term evacuation life. At Hiroyasu Elementary School, we helped create a system where everyone\u2014regardless of whether they were a survivor or a supporter\u2014was viewed as a volunteer. We facilitated meetings where residents discussed rules and published an evacuation center newsletter. These weekly meetings had no designated leaders, ensuring an environment where anyone could voice their opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to those in shelters or cars, there was an urgent need to identify and support “home-based evacuees” living in damaged houses or tents. PBV collaborated with local residents, neighborhood associations, and the Social Welfare Council to support the operations of Disaster Volunteer Centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We helped establish a system for individual door-to-door assessments to find households that were slipping through the cracks of public assistance. Based on this information, we matched volunteers for tasks such as moving furniture and cleaning, while also coordinating with specialized organizations to provide comprehensive support for housing reconstruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediately after the earthquake, children requiring medical care\u2014such as ventilators or tube feeding\u2014faced life-threatening conditions due to power outages and poor hygiene. Some families were forced to live in cars for two weeks just to secure a power source, pushing them to their breaking point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To address this, two months after the quake, a facility for pediatric development and after-school day care was established within the local hospital in Kumamoto City. PBV partnered with specialized organizations to support the launch and provided qualified volunteers for three months. Parents shared that having a safe place to entrust their children allowed the children to grow and the parents to finally find some rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The issue of “disaster-related deaths” highlighted by the Kumamoto Earthquake has significantly reshaped disaster management in Japan. In the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, related deaths once again surpassed direct deaths due to harsh evacuation environments. While every disaster is unique, our teams currently working in Noto do so with the lessons of Kumamoto\u2014improving the quality of evacuation life\u2014firmly in their hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, these grassroots insights have been integrated into national systems. One example is the “Evacuation Life Support Leader\/Supporter” training led by the Cabinet Office. This program, which trains individuals in shelter management and communication with survivors during peacetime, is built upon the field expertise that PBV has cultivated over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the final stages of our Kumamoto activities, we delivered furniture and appliances to community rooms in all temporary housing units in Mashiki Town. We did this out of a conviction, born from past disasters, that “a place where residents naturally gather is essential to prevent lonely deaths.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Providing a house and supplies is only the minimum requirement for recovery. What truly matters is rebuilding the “connections between people.” If there is a chair, someone will sit; if there is tea, conversation begins. These simple spaces allow residents to gather, and through those casual interactions, the hope to face tomorrow is born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A decade has passed, and while the city’s scenery has changed, we will never forget the lessons learned about protecting lives. We will continue to listen to the “unheard voices” of survivors and work towards a society where everyone can face tomorrow with peace of mind. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us and ask for your continued interest and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We sincerely ask for your warm support to continue PBV\u2019s emergency relief efforts and ensure life-saving aid continues to reach those most in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAddressing “Invisible Needs”: Children\u2019s Play Areas and a Restful Cafe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNutrition and Independence: Improving the Quality of Evacuation Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nReaching Home-Based Evacuees via Disaster Volunteer Centers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Safe Space for Children with Medical Needs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSharing Lessons Nationwide to Protect “Lives That Can Be Saved”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTowards the Next 10 Years: Rebuilding Communities to Prevent Isolation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n