Volunteer groups should not travel to Japan at this time.

(Baonghean.vn) - Learning from the experiences of volunteer groups arriving at the disaster site too early and not preparing carefully for volunteer work, causing difficulties for rescue teams, on April 16, the Japan Social Welfare Organization called on groups and organizations to be careful in volunteer work.

Volunteers work in Kumamoto province, southern Japan on April 16. Photo: Internet.

The appeal letter posted on the organization's website clearly states the current situation in Kumamoto prefecture and urges volunteer groups to delay their activities in the prefecture: "As you know, traffic is currently severely damaged and difficult to move around. Furthermore, heavy rain is forecast in the Kyshu region, so the risk of landslides is very high. The aftershocks have not stopped yet. The important thing now is to prioritize the rescue team to search for those still buried under the rubble..."

“In the current situation, Kumamoto Prefecture is not ready to receive volunteers. We feel that if volunteer groups arrive early, they may encounter many difficulties in health and activities, affecting the rescue team. Aftershocks can also make you become victims,” the organization added.

After the earthquake, many individuals on social networks called for the formation of volunteer groups, but there were also many conflicting opinions on this issue. There were many highly constructive opinions, reminding volunteers, for example: must be healthy, know how to take care of themselves, not receive support from the rescue team, bring full personal and group items, work responsibly...

On the Facebook page of the Vietnamese Student Association in Japan, there are many groups calling for volunteers and members also contributed their opinions on this issue. Source: FB.

On the Facebook page of the Vietnamese Student Association in Japan, there are many groups calling for volunteers and members also contributed their opinions on this issue. Thanh Ha expressed: “The situation there is not ready to welcome volunteers yet, so we should not be too hasty. Just prepare yourself mentally so that when you can actually help, it will be more effective.”

Meanwhile, member Phuong Thao was more cautious, contacting the local authorities herself: “I am also contacting the local authorities to ask for permission to ask them about the location, time and number of people to be mobilized. Then I will start to make a specific plan and mobilize Vietnamese friends to go there to help under the guidance of the Japanese.”

Le Quyen

(Compiled from Osaka, Japan)