Statistics show that the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began at the end of February 2022, has forced more than 6 million people to flee their homes in Ukraine and displaced more than 15 million people across borders (according to UNCHR, as of November 2022).
　Japan also began receiving Ukrainian refugees in early April 2022, with the first refugees arriving in Hiroshima City at the end of April. In order to support the evacuees in their sudden and unfamiliar life in a foreign country, the City Diversity & Inclusion Division has been working on behalf of the City of Hiroshima to set up a support program for the evacuees. Rather than creating an entirely new initiative for Ukrainian displaced persons from scratch, we are utilizing our organizations that have been providing support to foreign citizens living in the country regardless of nationality, as well as their knowhow and resources, to provide support.
　There are two main pillars of this project. The first pillar is to arrange interpreters for administrative procedures and daily life consultations at the Hiroshima City & Aki-gun Foreign Resident Consultation Center, and for medical appointments. For example, in order for a foreigner to settle in Japan for a certain period of time, he/she must go through the procedures to obtain status of residence at the Immigration Services Agency. We dispatched an interpreter to assist in this complicated process.
　The second pillar is to provide opportunities to learn Japanese. Learning Japanese is essential for displaced persons who may settle in Japan for a long time to live independently and stably. If you cannot speak Japanese, you will experience difficulties and inconveniences in your daily life. Also, if you cannot communicate with people around you in Japan, where you do not know many people, you may become isolated. Furthermore, a certain level of Japanese language proficiency is required to work in the desired occupation.
　The City Diversity & Inclusion Division usually holds introductory-level Japanese language classes for foreign residents at the International Conference Center Hiroshima, and the spring term of FY2022 was from early May to late July (twice a week, 22 sessions in total). Three Ukrainians from two families attended these classes. In addition, we offered Japanese language tutoring by a Russian-speaking instructor.

　Since the staff meets with the evacuees several times a week for several months in classrooms and tutorials, they are able to detect any problems and respond as necessary in cooperation with Hiroshima City and other related agencies. This ongoing involvement allows us to naturally watch over them and provide smooth assistance when needed. Their expressions became more relaxed with each passing session.
　After acquiring the minimum necessary Japanese for daily life in a class for beginners of Japanese, students will continue their studies with Japanese people in the community. We hope that many of you will take an interest in Ukrainian refugees and other foreigners already living in Japan as neighbors and take the first step to extend a warm hand.