Long-term assistance needed to help those who lost parents March 11
(From The Japan Times July 27 issue)

The central and local governments have found that more than 200 children in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures became orphans in the March 11 quake and tsunami, and consequently have provided them livelihood and education support.

The public sector must also locate children who lost one parent in the disasters and support them as needed.

A survey conducted at the end of May by Ashinaga Ikueikai (Educational and Emotional Support for Orphans Worldwide) is helpful in understanding the overall situation surrounding children who lost one or both parents.

Ashinaga has been providing one-time support money ranging from ¥500,000 to ¥1 million to children —from preschool children to university students —who lost either or both parents, or who have suffered serious aftereffects due to the March 11 disasters.

The survey covered 1,120 such children in 707 households, who received the money from the charity organization.

It found that 49 percent of the households were mother-child households 30 percent father-child households, and 19 percent parentless households in which uncles, aunts or grandparents were taking care of children.

Guardians were in their 40s in 43 percent of the total households, in their 30s in 23 percent and in their 50s in 19 percent.

The youngest guardian was a 19-year-old woman, who lost her widowed mother and is taking care of her 18-year-old sister.

Guardians are economically in a difficult situation. Thirty-seven percent were permanently employed, 17 percent temporarily employed, 23 percent jobless and 8 percent were seeking employment.

The public sector must not only fully inform guardians about a survivor's pension and a special child allowance for a one-parent household but also provide decent residences and help guardians find jobs. Long-term assistance will become necessary.

日本語の抄訳はウィークリー8月13日号のP18に掲載されています。