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

? although such a situation is mostly unlikely in many of the developing countries. TheNGO staff had to spend considerable time for explaining their organizational mandatesand characters to local authorities and affected communities, as well as for goingthrough administrative procedures, including obtaining permits from both prefecturaland municipal authorities. Unlike individual volunteers 25 , the role of NGOs and NPOs arenot clearly defined in the Japanese legal framework related to disaster management.Nevertheless, the services that NGOs actually provided, such as providing‘child-friendlyspaces’were relatively well received in the end.? In addition to the protection aspect, the close involvement of affected populations withdiverse background in the decision making was not generally achieved. Although thedisaster management plans emphasize the vulnerability aspect of children and women,their‘mainstreaming’- meaning listening to their opinions and reflecting them in thedecision making processes - has not been realised.(3) In-depth analysis of the causes of the above issues? Then, why were these international standards not applied? First of all, such standardswere simply not known to many mainly because most of them were not available inJapanese. Although staff members of international NGOs knew them, they did not eitherpromote them or call for compliance to them. Even a question was raised about theirlevel of awareness about such standards. For example, some Japanese aid workersinvolved in overseas operations did not hesitate when applying double standards ongender issues, saying that the situation in Japan was exceptional. Considering today’scircumstances around Japanese women and, in particular, the challenges they face inachieving gender equality, the problem seems to be rather deep-rooted. It is alsoimpossible for the whole society to provide sufficient care for handicapped peopleduring emergencies, unless it is prepared to do so in the pre-disaster phase.? The relationship between domestic disaster management experts and international aidproviders is disconnected; hence, they have little chance for mutual learning orpersonnel exchanges. Accordingly, no process exists that allows application of theinternational humanitarian standards to domestic response or feeding the domesticexperiences into the development of such international standards. In this regard,coordination between MOFA, which should be aware of relevant international standards,and the Cabinet Office (disaster management) during the peace-time was consideredinsufficient. In addition, useful know-how that the staff members of JICA had acquiredthrough their overseas operations could not be sufficiently utilised, as well. Even withinthe JRCS, staff members involved in domestic operations would be hesitant or feeluneasy about directly applying the international standards to a developed country likeJapan, even though its staffers responsible for international operations wouldemphasise their importance. This could be due to their perception that such standardshave been practically developed for disaster relief operations in developing countries.? Although the focus should be placed on children and women, there are children ofvarious age groups, and pregnant and lactating mothers, elderly persons, people withdisabilities, foreigners and more, each of whom has unique and different needs. Respect25The basic disaster prevention plan also includes provisions for volunteering persons as“people who voluntarilyoffer assistance with good intention”but makes no reference to NGOs/NPOs organised by people with specialisedabilities.23