ブックタイトルRecommendations to prepare for future mega-disasters in Japan

概要

Recommendations to prepare for future mega-disasters in Japan

Part II: Application of the existing international norms and standards2-1. Establishment and application of national minimum standards for future disaster responsein Japan, building on exiting international norms and standards1. Background to the recommendations(1) Objectives and reasons for the recommendations? The GEJE was an unprecedented large-scale disaster that caused serious and widespread damages beyond various assumptions, including numerous casualties anddisplacement for a prolonged period. During the period from the immediate evacuationphase till rehabilitation starts with the construction of temporary houses, lives of manyof survivors were threatened and their human dignity were denied (or at the risk ofbeing denied) due to severe physical conditions and psychological difficulties they had toendure in the evacuation centres.? During such period, a number of problems were identified concerning, for examples,types of food aid and the system of food distributions; lack of privacy and securityconcerns in the evacuation centres; conditions and quality of water supply andtemporary toilets; and health and medical services for the evacuees, including thosesuffering from chronic diseases. The assistance provided did not sufficiently meet thediverse and different needs reflecting factors such as gender, sexual orientation, age,disability, nationality, mother tongues, family composition and employment status.? Most of these problems could have been prevented, if pre-determined nationalminimum standards were in place and preparedness measures were taken by theinstitutional aid providers, ensuring a systematic response following such standards. Onthe contrary, aid providers had to react to the evolving situation in an ad-hoc manner,by predominantly focusing on distributing available resources at a point in time - as fairand equal as possible. This is essentially a different approach from securing a minimumset of relief items and basic services delivered for everyone in need and consistently.Moreover, disaster-responderss could ensure more comprehensive, systematic, andevidence based assistance, with clear grounds for aid prioritisation, if they utilised astandard format for needs assessments and common methods for their comparison andcompilation - again in light of the national minimum standards.? In fact, so-called international minimum standards had already been established andapplied by those involved in disaster relief operations overseas. A background to this isthat these international standards had been developed to ensure that emergency reliefand humanitarian assistance, mainly for developing countries, are provided effectivelyand efficiently, and in accordance with international norms related to humanitarianprinciples. Meanwhile, Japan as an international-assistance donor, has been in a positionto request the UN, NGOs and other disaster responders to comply with the internationalminimum standards when they provide emergency relief and humanitarian assistanceoutside Japan.? On the other hand, Japanese Government’s present disaster-management systems andinstitutional measures, including the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act, do not21