Category: Disasters

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 5, 2025 1
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Disasters Earthquake Elderly Japan

Ishikawa Prefecture Investigates Deaths of Elderly from “indirect causes” One Year After Noto Earthquake

Concerns have been raised about the deaths of elderly people who died of “indirect causes” after they were evacuated, dying at care facilities. Jiji Press reported that as of Wednesday 25th December 2024 that “22 of 176 elderly evacuees from Ishikawa had died at elderly care facilities or elsewhere in Toyama, according to the Toyama Prefectural Government. In Aichi, 16 of 68 such evacuees died at care facilities or hospitals.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 17, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Disasters Discrimination Japan

Annual ‘Miyagi Appeal Action’ Held in Sendai to Raise Awareness About Issues Facing People with Disabilities 

he “Miyagi Appeal Action” rally was held in Sendai City on the 16th to raise awareness of the discrimination and difficulties facing people with disabilities. This is held annually by an executive committee made up of over 40 disability groups in Miyagi Prefecture. This year, in response to the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the theme was “Disability and Disaster Prevention,” and an appeal was adopted calling on the government to develop disaster prevention and evacuation plans that reflect the perspectives of people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 13, 2024 Number of comments0
Deaf Disability Disasters Earthquake Hearing Impaired Japan Podcast Typhoon

[Emergency Broadcast] Typhoons, Earthquakes & Survey of Deaf Peoples Needs in Disasters

On the 10th, three staff members from the Prefectural Center for the Hearing Impaired drove around the homes of hearing-impaired people living in the city, where a seismic intensity of 6-low was observed in the earthquake on the 8th. The staff members used sign language to ask about damage caused by the earthquake and their concerns. Mitsuhira Kazuo, director of the Prefectural Center for the Deaf, who conducted the survey, said, “We don’t know when the next big earthquake will occur, so we went there to listen in detail. We would like to hear the honest feelings of disabled people in other areas of the prefecture as well.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 13, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Disasters Earthquake Elderly Japan

As society ages, Japan faces challenge in helping vulnerable people in disasters [Mainichi Shimbun Editorial]

How can we support the lives of elderly evacuees in disaster-affected areas? This is a challenge that Japan faces as a whole as its population ages.

Four months have passed since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in central Japan. In the Okunoto region that was hit directly by the quake, close to half of the residents are seniors. Elderly care facilities that have supported the welfare of local residents also sustained major damage.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 15, 2024 Number of comments0
Disasters Earthquake Elderly Japan Mental Health

13 Years After Major Earthquake Miyagi Governor Stresses Need for Psychological Care

The governor of Miyagi, one of the northeastern Japan prefectures hit hard by a massive earthquake and tsunami 13 years ago, emphasized the need for psychological care for those affected by the disaster.

The number of people experiencing mental issues has gone up due to changes in their environment following the March 11, 2011, disaster, Murai said, adding that the number of elderly residents living alone has increased as well.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 27, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Disasters Earthquake Intellectual disabilities Japan

Quake evacuees with mental disabilities have few places to go

Residents with mental and intellectual disabilities have faced difficulties finding and staying at evacuation centers in disaster-hit areas of Ishikawa Prefecture.

The shelters are not equipped to provide the special needs of these quake victims, and other evacuees have complained about their new disabled neighbors.