AAR Japan Launches Emergency Support for Southern Philippines Earthquake

AAR Japan [Assistance for Asian Refugees] (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yoshiaki Horie) will dispatch Japanese staff to the affected areas to provide emergency support for victims following the magnitude 8.2 earthquake that occurred off the coast of Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines on June 8, 2026.

The earthquake has caused damage such as building collapses, landslides, and power outages, primarily in General Santos City and Sarangani Province. According to reports, at least 32 people have died, over 200 have been injured, and thousands have been forced to evacuate. Amid concerns of further damage from aftershocks, shortages of food, drinking water, and hygiene supplies are becoming severe in the affected regions.

Investigating Damage and Support Needs, Distributing Emergency Supplies

AAR will dispatch Japanese staff to the affected areas to investigate the extent of the damage and identify support needs.

Based on this assessment, emergency relief activities will be conducted, focusing on areas that have suffered significant damage and have not yet received adequate assistance.

The relief supplies planned for distribution include:

Food items such as rice, canned goods, and instant foods

Hygiene items such as soap and sanitary products

Blankets, solar lights

Other daily necessities according to local needs

Priority will be given to households whose homes have been damaged or are living in evacuation centers, as well as low-income households and those including individuals with disabilities, the elderly, infants, and pregnant or nursing mothers.

Responding with Experience Gained from Past Disaster Relief

AAR has conducted disaster relief activities in the Philippines in the past. Following the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, AAR dispatched Japanese staff to distribute food in hard-to-reach areas and provided house repair support for households with disabled members or the elderly.

In this current emergency response, AAR will leverage its past experience and local network to provide support activities tailored to the individual circumstances of each victim.

Request for Support

AAR is accepting donations from the public to fund its emergency relief activities for the victims of the Philippine earthquake.

One-time donation: https://aarjapan.gr.jp/support/onetime/

Monthly Supporter: https://aarjapan.gr.jp/support/monthly/

About AAR Japan [Assistance for Asian Refugees]

AAR Japan [Assistance for Asian Refugees] is an international cooperation NGO established in 1979. It provides support to people in difficult situations worldwide due to conflict, natural disasters, poverty, and other causes.