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

Management Basic Act differently, and that NGOs/NPOs should have focused on other typesof assistance requiring different expertise and response to more diverse and critical needs ofthe affected populations that they are better at addressing. In order to ensure rapid responseand efficient assistance based on a clear division of labour, NGOs and NPOs should learnmore about the Disaster Management Basic Act. At the same time, the public institutionsshould consider apply disaster response related laws to NGO/NPO activities before a disasterstrikes. Furthermore, media should be advised to make a clear distinction between theindividual volunteers and those working with NPOs/NGOs; reflect on their roles and evaluatethe impact of their programmes; and address questions related to the accountability ofNGOs/NPOs.(3) Coordination among NGOs/NPOsA coordination system - that does not solely rely on informal and ad-hoc personalrelationships - is needed, in order for NGOs and NPOs to maximise their capabilities torespond to a large scale disaster with sufficiently wide geographic coverage. Given that theoperational environment of humanitarian assistance in Japan differs significantly from that ofother countries, it is questionable if transplanting the coordination mechanisms and resourcesused in the international context directly to Japan would work effectively. In other words, aunique Japanese system needs to be developed by well taking into consideration the Japanesedisaster response system and the wide range of organisations involved in it. Lessons learnedby JPF, JANIC and other intermediary organizations created during the GEJE shows thatNGOs and NPOs need to agree on a system to collectively respond to and communicate on anemergency situation; establish a coordination body equipped with necessary resources; andsensitise about these among the NGOs and NPOs during the peacetime.To strengthen their coordination capacities, NGOs and NPOs should secure human resourceswith relevant knowhow and experience. In particular, systematic and continued collection ofinformation around 3Ws (Who, does what and where) is essential for creating an enablingenvironment for coordination. Thus, the coordination body needs to examine the mostefficient information management methods and prioritise to develop a system that allows realtime data collection, monitoring and analysis on needs and response.During the GEJE, intermediary organisations were expected to play a significant role in termsof responding to the offers of international assistance and handling the foreign aidorganisations. However, such coordination required the intermediary organizations topre-establish networks not only with the domestic responders but also with different parts ofthe Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN and other international organisations, foreigndonors and international NGOs, and to put in place a mechanism to ensure swift and smooth51