Support Center Launched to Help People with Disabilities Affected by the Kumamoto Earthquake Unable to Speak Up

From The Mainichi Shimbun

September 2 2026

KUMAMOTO – In areas affected by the Kumamoto Earthquake, the “Kumamoto Earthquake Disaster-Affected Persons with Disabilities Support Center” has been established to help people with disabilities and others who are unable to voice their needs or ask for help themselves. Many people with disabilities are reportedly still without adequate government assistance and are left helpless amid the rubble. In addition to local welfare organizations, support groups from outside Kumamoto Prefecture have begun working on the ground.

“We were particularly unprepared to meet the needs of people with disabilities who are staying at home. We had no choice but to create a system to receive requests for assistance and bring in people from different parts of the country.”

So explained Toshihiro Higashi, 73, the center’s director, describing the circumstances that led to its establishment.

The center was launched on August 17, based on the Kumamoto Disability Forum, an organization made up of disability groups in Kumamoto Prefecture. With the NPO Torata-no-Kai, based in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, serving as its administrative office, the center received 32 requests for assistance during its first 10 days, involving people with physical, intellectual, and mental disabilities.

According to Takashi Fukushima, 63, of Kumamoto City, who is involved in the center’s activities, the situation of people with disabilities who regularly receive services from welfare facilities has, at least to some extent, been identified since the earthquake.

On the other hand, many people with disability certificates do not receive any welfare services, and assistance has failed to reach many of them. Among the cases handled by the center was an elderly person with a disability who lived alone and was left helpless, surrounded by rubble and garbage.

Participation in the center from outside Kumamoto Prefecture is also expanding, supported by a nationwide network of organizations assisting people with disabilities.

“I wanted to support disaster victims who are unable to speak up, or connect them with the center.”

Tomoko Masujima, 55, a staff member of the Disaster Area NGO Collaborative Center in Kobe, traveled from Ishikawa Prefecture to join the effort. She is still involved in supporting communities affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

Elai Ceylan, 34, who also participated in volunteer activities in Noto, is originally from Turkey. Since August 8, Ceylan has been helping with tasks including clearing debris from damaged homes.

More than 17,000 people were killed in a 1999 earthquake in western Turkey. Describing the Kumamoto earthquake, Ceylan said, “I had never seen roads twisted and warped like this before. It was frightening.”

To identify people in need, the center has produced 8,400 flyers calling on people with disabilities and others to send out an “SOS,” and distribution has begun. The center anticipates providing a wide range of assistance, including help with daily life, finding housing, and employment consultations.

“We want to do everything we can to respond to people’s needs,” the center said.

For inquiries, contact the Kumamoto Earthquake Disaster-Affected Persons with Disabilities Support Center at 070-5475-1100.