Technological Disasters and Displacement:Fukushima as a ”living example”

Japan Platform

Ana Mosneaga

2018.7.20

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Japan Platform (JPF) – a brief introduction:

A consortium of Japan-based humanitarian NGOs; acts as an intermediary support organisation distributing funds raised from public and private sectors and providing information and capacity building support to its 42 member NGOs.

As of June 2018:• 7 active programmes in

14 countries.

In Fukushima:• Since March 2011• A special funding scheme

open to JPF member & non-member NGOs

• During 2017: 25 NGOs implementing 36 projects with JPF funding

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Displacement following Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident

Source: Fukushima Prefectural Government 2017; Japan’s Reconstruction Agency, 2018

- 20mSv/per year: threshold for evacuation

- Official evacuee count:May 2012 – 164,865 peopleMay 2018 – 45,874 people

- Gradual reorganization of evacuation zones:

different categories of mandatory evacuees

- Mandatory vs. “Voluntary” evacuees

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Understanding displacement through time

3,222,000

• Differing treatment of evacuees Tensions within and among the affected families

and communities.

• Protracted periods of displacement triggered by nuclear disasters.

Complex, painful process of recovery

Fukushima as a “living example”:- Evolving needs, capacities and vulnerabilities

- Intertwined with more deep-rooted socio-economic issues: • regional inequalities, • job/income insecurity, • social isolation.

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Regional inequalities compounded by uneven recovery

3,222,000

• Variations in damage + delays in reconstruction Uneven recovery of local economies and services

• Demographic changes- Stagnant returns: 50% of returnees above 65- Labour shortages: affect vital businesses/institutions

- Influx of decontamination/decommission workers Dependency on the “recovery bubble” that is bound to end

- Concentration of evacuees in some towns Spike in land/property prices Strain on the capacity of locally available services Tensions between displaced populations and their hosts

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Iwate

Miyagi

Fukushima

Do you feel that recovery is progressing?

Yes Somewhat Not really No

Source: Asahi Shimbun survey data, March 2018

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Job/income insecurity in the shadow of recovery

• Post-nuclear disaster decontamination works- Large demand for manual labour: workers gathered

from all around Japan- Temporary “recovery boom” of services catering for

their daily needs

• Complex systems of subcontracting - Zero job security: breeding ground for exploitative

working conditions Employers take a cut off workers’ wages:

withholding “hazard” allowance or overcharging for accomodation and meals

Majority are laid off once the demand wanes The most vulnerable end up as homeless on the streets

of regional city centres.©Yukan Fuji

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Social isolation of elderly evacuees and returnees

• Fukushima evacuees: moved 4.6 times on average Collective evacuation shelters Temporary accomodation Different trajectories: - Rebuild houses or rent flats elsewhere- Relocate to subsidised public housing- Return to original place of residence

• Community ties/personal relations lost with each moveElderly are the most affected social isolation/marginalisation

Heavily affected prefectures by 2011 disasters Fukushima Miyagi Iwate

Direct deaths(including missing persons)

1,810 10,761 5,789

Indirect deaths (from health issues/suicides)

2,227(90% are over age 66)

927 466

© Ana Mosneaga

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Conclusion: searching solutions after technological disasters

3,222,000

• Variations in the pace of recovery exacerbating pre-existing regional inequalities• A growing underclass in the shadow of decontamination/reconstruction works.• Negative social selection in recovery process propelling the isolation of the elderly Disaster-induced vulnerabilities linked with pre-existing, structural issues:

Regional inequalities, job/income insecurity, social isolation = endemic in the societies of many industrialised and developing countries alike.

Searching solutions as a long-term resilience issue:- Comprehensive reforms to policy, legal and institutional frameworks to provide

targeted and timely support tailored to the changing realities. Close cooperation between all levels of governance backed by genuine political

commitment to engage with affected people and involve them in policy processes.

- Greater awareness about long-lasting and divisive impacts of technological disasters. Addressing psychological and social consequences is as important as reconstructing

physical infrastructure and environmental remediation

Thank you!