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

for diversity should, therefore, be mainstreamed in the Japanese disaster relief. At theinternational level, more discussion is needed regarding assistance for and protection ofthe elderly and people with disabilities. Given that even the Sphere Standards requirefurther discussion on this particular aspect, there is a significant room for Japan to makecontributions to further development of the international standards in this domain,based on its experience during the GEJE.2. Recommended actions(1) Recommended actions? A special review committee (hereinafter called the‘Committee’) should be established,with a mandate to review the Government’s present disaster-response systems from aninternational perspective. The Committee should thereby design a renewedemergency-response mechanism with a view to ensure sufficient preparednessmeasures in response to possible large-scale disasters, including the Nankai Troughscenario. The Committee should be composed not only of Government practitioners butalso of various experts with knowledge of international standards and workingexperience in international disaster relief operations. The process and results of theirdiscussion should be made public. The Committee should be an integral part of thedisaster-management system coordinated by the Cabinet Office, and recognised as anofficial body of the Government of Japan. The Committee should also be mandated toserve as a consultative body that facilitates and monitors the implementation of a rangeof improvement measures listed below.? The Committee should fully take into account internationally established norms andstandards as well as good practices from overseas, and formulate Japan’s commonminimum standards for disaster response that are compatible with its localcharacteristics and socio-cultural backgrounds. In this process, the Committee shouldrespect two basic principles in the Sphere Standards: namely that those affected bydisaster or conflict have the right to live with dignity and hence to receive assistance;and that all possible measures should be taken to alleviate human suffering fromdisaster or conflict. Moreover, the minimum standards should include: (i) commonmethods for needs assessment; and (ii) the types of and methods to provide assistance.? During the emergency relief and early recovery phases, all institutional aid providersmust fully recognize their obligations to abide by the humanitarian principlesestablished as international minimum standards, including humanity, neutrality,impartiality, and operational independence. The minimum standards should also includethe‘Do No Harm’principle ? i.e. humanitarian organisations should never bring anyharm to the disaster-affected populations.? The Committee should fully understand that people’s needs for assistance differdepending on their social and physical, such as gender, age, disability, nationality,mother tongue, family composition and employment situation, and take into accountsuch variables in the common national minimum standards for disaster response.? The Committee should advise the Government of Japan to take necessary legal andadministrative measures to shift from its Government centred assistance for the24