ブックタイトル人道ジャーナル第3号

概要

人道ジャーナル第3号

The Journal of Humanitarian Studies Vol. 3, 2014primary concern was to secure somewhere safe to live and to move out of temporary accommodation. Howeverfor many of those living on fixed income pensions, and with limited access to bank loans, rebuilding their homeswill prove difficult. Older people in Miyako and Ishinomaki cities reported their concerns:“I don’t know where to go from here. I am too old to build my house one more time.”“I don’t think I can build my house, because I am too old to be qualified for a mortgage. Moreover, I am living onmy pension, and cannot afford it.”Informal conversations during data collection revealed that older people are worried by the prospect that if theycannot rebuild their own homes they will be forced to move to multi-story apartment complexes. Similar concernswere also raised after the Kobe earthquake. They fear a further erosion of their natural way of socializing, whichis often meeting to chat in informal spaces such as gardens. They are equally anxious about their potential accessto basic services. Having lived in temporary housing where access to local amenities and health services ischallenging for those with limited mobility, they are keen to avoid this situation in the future. It is importanttherefore, that newly developed residential areas ensure easy access to such amenities, with inexpensive andconvenient public transportation systems.A specific concern in the Japanese context is the ability of the welfare system to provide support for older peopleduring the longer-term recovery. Older people play a strong role in family life, and the Japanese have a relativelyrobust tradition of family care. In 2010 the proportion of older people living with a child was 41%. While this hasdeclined from 80% in 1960, and the numbers of older people living alone or in institutions has risen, residency ofolder people with children in Japan remains far higher than in other developed nations, and this arrangement iswidely considered normal in Japanese culture.While levels of family care in Japan are high, the loss of family members and the need to focus on economicrecovery will likely place greater pressure on institutional and home care schemes such as the public long termcare insurance,（which has already come in for some criticism surrounding the quality of home care provided）.（14）Furthermore, prior to the crisis, an official Japanese survey found high levels of neglect and some abuse offrail older relatives. This is attributed partly to shrinking numbers of care-givers and the heavier burdens placedupon them, and reflects changes in demographic and residence patterns, gender roles and employment practices.Persistent social pressures surrounding family obligations compound these difficulties. It is likely that theseissues will intensify following the crisis and long-term displacement. For those older people who have lostfamilies and social support networks, the quality and availability of long term care is understandably a majorconcern.6］RECOMMENDATIONSThe significant and growing older population in Japan, combined with evidence of exclusion of older people fromresponse and recovery efforts, beholds National and Local Government, humanitarian response agencies, NGOsand civil society to understand how older people are affected by crises and how their needs can be moreeffectively addressed. The recommendations that follow are intended to address specific conditions faced byolder people in Japan, but draw upon the wider evidence base of HelpAge emergency and disaster risk reductionprogrammes.6.1 EVACUATIONEvacuation plansEvacuation plans should account for the specific needs of older people and the level of support they are likely toreceive from family and community members:96人道研究ジャーナルVol. 3, 2014