A Syrian draws on his own upheaval to help Noto earthquake survivors

“It reminds me of home.”

Salim Mazen visited the Noto Peninsula on a volunteer trip just days after the earthquake. What he saw reminded him of heartbreaking scenes from home.

“It’s a disaster here,” Mazen said. “But I saw this kind of thing in the war in Syria. It looks similar.”

Since then, Mazen has made more than 50 supply runs to the earthquake-hit region, delivering food, water and other essential goods.

“When I went there for the first time, I realized I had to go back a second and third time.” Mazen said. “I saw the expressions of gratitude in people’s eyes and promised them that I would come back and provide help for as long as I could.”

Forced to leave Syria

Mazen was born and raised in Syria, then studied engineering in Moscow. After graduating, he was hired by an automobile company to work in its international business department, a job that often took him to Japan.

His life was turned upside down in 2011 when civil war broke out in Syria. Mazen decided to bring his wife, children and parents to Japan. Since then, they have not been able to return home.

“War is the worst thing that can happen because it has many consequences,” says Mazen. “No one wins in a war. I hope people realize this and find peace as quickly as possible.”

For more than 10 years, he and his family have lived in Toyama Prefecture, where he works as a trader. He has also served as director of the Toyama Muslim Center for the past decade and organizes volunteer trips in Japan and around the world. His group carried out relief missions to the Japanese cities of Hiroshima, Nagano and Hokkaido after they were hit by natural disasters, and visited Syrian refugee camps in Turkey and Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Mazen and his team of volunteers are now focusing their efforts on Wajima. Before the earthquake, the port city was home to around 23,000 residents and was known for its thriving traditional craft culture and bustling morning market. But the earthquake sparked a fire that ravaged the city center, leaving businesses ruined and families homeless.

The city has built around 3,000 temporary housing units. There is also concern that people living in these establishments, far from commercial areas, will feel isolated.

Sense of community

Mazen’s volunteer experience has taught him that a sense of community can bring comfort to people in times of upheaval. He opened a makeshift cafe so people in temporary shelter would have somewhere to go during the day. His sons serve Syrian coffee and are enthusiastic conversationalists. Some residents say their presence has provided Wajima with a much-needed injection of youthful energy.

“Even before our community burned down, we never saw any children,” one woman said. “There were only old people here. So it makes me happy to see them.”

Mazen also set up a market near the cafe where he distributes clothes, silverware and furniture he brings from Toyama.

“I’m glad it’s all free,” says one woman. “You don’t see this very often. Our house was destroyed and we couldn’t save anything, so we’re grateful.”

Instill the values ​​of volunteering

Mazen hopes these trips to Wajima will instill in young volunteers a lifelong commitment to helping people in need.

“It’s harder than I thought,” said one volunteer. “But if I can do something, then I want to help.”

Mazen knows all too well the feeling of helplessness that comes with being uprooted from home. In his case, Japan offered his family the opportunity to build a new life. He wants to make sure the people of Wajima have the same support and intends to guide them along the long road to recovery.

A family who lost their home in Syria is now supporting those in a similar situation in Japan. It’s a long and difficult road to rebuild places lost to war or natural disasters, but Mazen’s desire to do so drives him to help again and again.

Inclusive approach to recovery

NHK World’s Goto Hiroki appeared on NHK Newsline Inowned to talk about the story. The following is an excerpt from his conversation with Newsline In Depth anchor Shibuya Aki.

ShibuyaAki: It appears that Mazen persisted in his volunteer work from the start. How did you get to know him?

Go to Hiroki: I first contacted Mazen in January and then 6 months later checked back in for an update. He didn’t stop, but continued to help all the time. He did not work alone. A former local university professor and an NGO put him in touch with the affected areas. His strong desire to help others brings people together and allows him to complete his work.

Shibuya: In your report, I really felt like the images of Mazen’s homeland overlapped with what happened in the earthquake. Were you able to talk to him about it?

Go to: Yes, this is clearly a very sensitive situation. In fact, when I was a university student, I had the chance to visit Syria. Recent images of the war are simply terrible. But in times of peace it was a beautiful and hospitable country and I remember with fondness the kindness of everyone. Given this context, I wanted to ask Mazen about his difficult experiences in Syria, but he didn’t want to talk much and seemed sad. Regardless, Mazen’s efforts in Noto remind me of the hospitality and kindness I experienced in Syria.

Shibuya: Mazen is clearly a role model for the other members of his group and his work also shows how people from different backgrounds come together in the most difficult times.

Go to: RIGHT. When I spoke with Mazen, he told me that he eats Japanese food and drinks Japanese water. In other words, we are all human beings and we need to help each other when we are in trouble. I interviewed an expert who has helped foreign residents after various disasters and who has studied the situation in Wajima. He spoke about the importance of an inclusive approach in such times.

Go to: The expert added that circles of support are growing across the world, meaning that people facing one disaster can, in turn, help during the next one.

Go to: Mazen received letters of thanks from the residents of Noto. Among them was a primary school student who had met his family. They wrote that they wanted to meet again one day and maybe even become friends. I have come to believe that people who help each other when they are in trouble are valuable, regardless of their nationality or religion. And it can help with even the most difficult recovery efforts.