Catholic aid groups in Japan are struggling to continue their charity work for refugees and other foreigners in vulnerable situations as donations have dwindled, affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
"If we continue like this, foreigners who depend on donations will have nowhere to turn," said Atsuko de Vizcardo Matsuura, a 56-year-old who works at Sinapis, an aid group created in 2002 by the Archdiocese of Osaka for immigrants facing issues such as domestic violence or difficulties stemming from not having residency status.
The Archdiocese of Osaka covers Osaka and neighboring the neighboring prefectures of Hyogo and Wakayama.