Role of JPF in the Support of Disaster Victims of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake: Challenges Faced

Abstract

To offer aid to the victims of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the Japan Platform, an intermediary support group, used the network it had built to carry out support activities coordinating between support groups and mediating support from companies to the affected areas. In addition, through subsidies to NGOs that carry out support activities on the scene, they facilitated support activities and support projects that focused on helping disaster victims in the reconstruction phase. However, there were several challenges in providing different types of support on the scene. Therefore, it is necessary to examine how best the efforts can be improved to cope with the problems that could not be addressed in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. Disaster victims have now begun to move into temporary housing. In a future reconstruction period, community-led reconstruction by local residents is crucial. To achieve this, Japan Platform continues to develop local NPOs and other support groups and human resources and support intermediary support groups that lead local reconstruction.