東日本大震災 最前線レポート4/8

4月7日午後11時40分、激しい余震が岩手を震え上がらせました。停電。東北自動車道路肩崩れる。4月1日を機に立ちあがってきた活力。再び暗黒の地に落ちた感じがしました。鉄道停止、宅急便停止、全ての電源がない世界。釜石の自立支援センターのボランティアは津波の恐れで午前0時前に全員山へ避難。

毎日余震があるけど、いったいいつまで続くのか。

牛舎は全頭手搾り搾乳。製造工房はまったく動かない。私の産直のお店では店頭にヨーグルトを並べ、呼び込み声をあげて販売。異常なほどヨーグルトは売れている。

世界のベストセラー聖書の中に、「コリントの使徒への手紙」というのがある。その二でパウロは、自分の苦労話をしている。「わたしが苦労したことをずっと多く、投獄させたこともずっと多く、鞭打たれたことは比較できないほど多く、死ぬような目に遭ったことも度々でした。・・・・・難に遭い、苦労し、骨折ってしばしば眠らずに過し飢え渇き、しばしば食べずにおり、寒さに凍え、裸でいたこともありました」

誰しも窮地や苦労を好む人はいない。今の日本ではそれを避けるために社会をつくることが課題とされてきた。不幸も挫折も、できれば避けて通りたい。しかし不幸と挫折が時にはその人を創り、強め、最終的な人生の答えを堂々と出させるために用意されていたとしか考えられないこともある。

「だれかが弱っているなら、わたしは弱らないでいられるでしょうか。だれかがつまずくなら、わたしが心を燃やさないでいられるでしょうか」(コリント信徒への手紙二)

解決するのは自分の知恵、体力、努力だと思いあがっていても、自然の力は、どうしようもない。余震は恐い。自分のできることの範囲を悟り、できないことに対しては素直に神の助けを待ち望みたい。


English Version:

April 8^th, 2011

On April 7 at 11:40 pm, powerful aftershocks rattled throughout Iwate prefecture. Blackout. With the news telling us that road shoulders on the Tohoku Expressway had collapsed, our vigor, which had grown since April 1^st, was beaten down. I felt as if I were falling down into dark lands again.

Railways were closed and delivery services were stopped. Once again, there were power outages everywhere. Volunteers of the Self-Support Center in Kamaishi escaped up to the mountains at midnight in fear of a tsunami. How many more times must we bear to survive such aftershocks?

With power out, we resumed milking manually. Processing machines at the factory don’t move at all. But we’ve displayed a fresh batch of my original yoghurt at my store, barking to sell them. My yoghurt sells extraordinarily well.

In the Second Epistle to the Corinthians of the Bible, the best seller in the world, St. Paul, talks about hardships he passed through.

“I more: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft. --- in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

Nobody likes troubles and hardship. Recently in Japan, we have aimed to build up our society to stay away from those problems. We want to avoid misfortune and failure if we can. However, such misfortune and failure will create character and strengthen it. Sometimes we can find nothing but that such hardship should have been brought to show the outcome of a life with dignity.

“Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I burn not? If I must need glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness.” (2 Corinthians)

Sometimes we are conceited about our wisdom, stamina, and effort to solve problems. But we cannot resist the power of Mother Nature. The aftershocks scared me. But I will try to know the limit of what I can do, and I will look for God’s help for when I can do nothing.


German Version:
8. April 2011

Am 7. April um 23h40 erschütterte ein gewaltiges Nachbeben die Iwate Präfektur. Stromausfall. Die Nachrichten berichteten uns, dass die Straßenränder des Tohoku Schnellweg eingestürzt sind; unsere Lebenskraft, die seit dem 1. April gewachsen war, erlosch. Ich habe mich gefühlt, als ob ich wieder ins düstere Land falle.

Die Eisenbahnschienen sind geschlossen und der Lieferservice wurde gestoppt. Wieder einmal gab es überall Stromausfälle. Freiwillige des Selbsthilfe-Zentrums in Kamaishi sind um Mitternacht auf den Berg geflohen aus Angst vor einem Tsunami. Wie viele Male noch müssen wir es verkraften ein Erdbeben zu überleben?

Ohne Strom müssen wir von Hand melken. Verarbeitungsmaschinen in der Fabrik rühren sich kein Stück. Aber wir haben eine frische Lieferung von meinem originalen Joghurt ausgestellt, darauf hoffend ihn zu verkaufen. Mein Joghurt verkauft sich außerordentlich gut.

Im 2. Korintherbrief der Bibel, das meistverkaufte Buch weltweit, spricht der Apostel Paulus über das Elend, das sie bewältigen mussten.

„Ich bin's noch mehr; ich habe weit mehr Mühsal, über die Maßen viele Streiche ausgestanden, war weit mehr in Gefängnissen, öfters in Todesgefahren. ---in Arbeit und Mühe, oftmals in Nachtwachen, in Hunger und Durst; oftmals in Fasten, in Kälte und Blöße.“

Niemand mag Leiden und Elend. Letztens haben wir uns in Japan bemüht unsere Gesellschaft aufzubauen, um sie von solchen Problemen fernzuhalten. Wir wollen Unglück und Scheitern vermeiden, wenn wir können. Nichtsdestotrotz prägt und stärkt dieses Unglück und Scheitern unsere Gesellschaft. Manchmal können wir uns nur vorstellen, dieses Elend sollte gebracht werden, um uns den Ausgang eines würdigen Lebens zu zeigen.

„Wer ist schwach, und ich bin nicht auch schwach? Wer nimmt Anstoß, und ich entbrenne nicht? Wenn ich mich rühmen soll, so will ich mich meiner Schwachheit rühmen.“ (2. Korinther)

Manchmal bilden wir uns auf unsere Weisheit, Durchhaltevermögen und das Bestreben Probleme zu lösen etwas ein. Aber wir können uns der Kraft von Mutter Natur nicht wiedersetzen. Die Nachbeben haben mich erschreckt. Aber ich werde versuchen, die Grenze dessen, was ich tun kann, zu erreichen, und ich werde nach Gottes Hilfe suchen, wenn ich nichts tun kann.

東日本大震災 最前線レポート 4/7

「自立へ」

自立支援センターの一日

センターは30人のボランティアでにぎわう

釜石の教会内に設けた自立支援センター、活気にあふれています。

現在30人のボランティアが寝泊まりし、朝から夕にかけ、ガレキ除去、炊き出し応援に出ています。釜石のガレキ除きは個人宅の応援作業です。

4月7日、仙台のジャンヌ・ダルクと呼んでいる横山英子さんの案内で、国際NGO「難民を助ける会」の理事加藤さんとスタッフが4トントラックで生活必需品と衛生用品、一人用ジュータンを運んできてくれました。全員で配送品を物資センターに入れ、被災者の方々に選んで持っていただこうと思います。

午後4時からミーティングをしました。「食の力を釜石へ」嬉しくなること、楽しくなることをやろう。それには「食」だ。4月11日から東京・柳谷晃子さん、料理教室のみなさんがおいしいスープを作りに、4月21日には赤坂四川飯店の陳建太郎さんとスタッフ、4月18日から「ビゴのパン」のスタッフとMOF認定のフランス人職人のパンづくり、その後　ラ・ベットラの落合シェフのイタリア料理が釜石、被災現場で腕をふるってもらう計画をたてています。(NHKの矢内さんに感謝です)


4月24日復活祭です。復活の手がかりは、食の力、魂が喜ぶ会と人とのつながり。



English Version:

April 7^th, 2011

"To be independent"

Image 1: First day in the Self-dependence Center

Image 2: As many as 30 volunteers at the Center. The Self-dependence Center in the church in Kamaishi is now full of energy. Currently 30 volunteers stay overnight to remove the rubble of individual houses and serve meals to displaced persons.

Image 3: On April 7th, Mr. Kato and his staff from an international NGO called The Association for Aid and Relief, Japan brought life commodities, sanitary goods, as well as carpets for one person by 4-ton truck. I am thinking to have all of us bring these to the supply center and suggest that the survivors to bring them back.

Image 4: I had a meeting at 4 pm. We decided to implement something to cheer up the survivors and make them happy: "meals" and "the power of food to Kamaishi". Thus, our plan is that Mr. Kentaro Chin and his staff at Akasaka Sichuan restaurant will serve some meals in Kamaishi on April 21^st, a French baker who is qualified as “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” will bake bread from April 18th and after that, Mr. Ochiai, an Italian chef, will cook some meals in Kamaishi and the surrounding disaster area (thank you, Yanai san from NHK).

Image 5: April 24th is Easter. Our “clues for reconstruction” include the power of food, meeting other people so that our spirits are delighted, and connection with others. 

東日本大震災 最前線レポート4/6

4月5日4回目となる「心も体もあったか号」の運行。小川体育館に避難している400人は、釜石の漁業者が多く、家も船もそして家族の人も失った方々でした。

いつもバスに乗る時、参加者はイライラしています。とても会話が難しい。重苦しさを感じながらスタート。平田、白浜地区の人々は漁業と地域の中で、コミュニケーションが形ずくられていて、次第に会話もはじまる。やはり温泉が効果あります。避難所を離れることも大事です。おいしい食も人に笑顔をもたらします。

小川体育館

今消費と販売の前線で、異常なことが起きています。まず、ヨーグルト、納豆、プリンの販売が再スタートしたのですが、1週間かかって売っていた量を一日で販売してしまう。スーパーでは売っていないのか? まず、原料の手当てができない。私は毎日資材の確保と工場の稼働率、物流の点検を大声を張り上げています。死にもの狂いで働くとはこういうことなのか。

4月6日釜石-遠野間開通。とうとう通った。3月11日の大津波は釜石駅まで押し寄せて、車はひっくり返っていた。陸の孤島から脱出。


English Version:

April 6^th, 2011

On April 5th, we ran our 4th "Cozy and Warm Bus Service Project for the People of Kamaishi". Participants invited today were those who were evacuated to the Ogawa gym. Most of them are engaged in the fisheries industry. They have lost their homes, ships, and even their families.

At the time when participants get on the bus, everyone looks so irritated. It is always difficult to find what to say. The tour starts in an oppressive atmosphere. Communication between the people of Hirata and Shirahama is based on fisheries and local area industry. Conversation starts gradually with time. The hot springs help people to open up. It is important to sometimes get away from the evacuation centers. Delicious food also brings a smile to everyone's face.

Currently, something abnormal is going on in the front lines of consumption and distribution. Sales of yogurt, natto, and pudding has restarted. The volume of sales which took a week to sell is now sold in a day. Don't they sell any at supermarkets? First, we can't prepare the ingredients. I am screaming out to obtain materials, check the capacity rate of our factory, and manage the distribution. I have come to know for the first time what it is to work frantically.

The railway between Kamaishi and Tono has reopened at last. The huge tsunami surged over Kamaishi station, turning cars upside down. We are finally able to escape from being an isolated land.

東北・関東大地震最前線レポート4/3

「製造への道」

３月２８日より、多田克彦手づくり工房は製造を再スタートしています。

太平洋ベルト帯の岩手・宮城・福島・茨城のラインは製造と流通の基地、工場群の集約地でした。特に仙台港周辺、茨城鹿島、大洗海岸には資材、食材の工場群があり、ここが壊滅になったため、材料の確保と流通網の構築に神経をとがらせていました。

私の仙台物流センターも津波で流され、商品在庫と全て商品情報データは紛失。釜石への被災現場の応援と自社の立て直しの２つの課題を背負って生きてきました。牛乳を加工し流通し販売する仕組みは目に見えないもうひとつのオンリーワン戦略です。何度も失敗し挑戦して組み立ててきました。これは読みなのです。いつから商品として市場へ出していくか、決行する日を決めたら生クリームの確保、脱脂粉乳・オリゴ糖の確保、容器の確保、あらゆる情報からきめ細かく商品づくりのストーリーを描く。４月４日、いよいよ関西への商品供給スタートをしました。神戸市兵庫区にお住まいの西川佳奈さんから４月４日、手紙をいただきました。

私のヨーグルトを食べていて、初めて口にした時から他のヨーグルトはもう食べられない。と有り難い言葉。「“命つなぐヨーグルト”私だけでなく皆さんが持っています。私達というより全国の命をつなぐよう一日も早い再起を祈っています。私も１６年前の阪神大震災で全壊となり、３年間の仮設生活を過ごし、今は復興住宅にお世話になっていますが、５年後には引っ越さなければいけません。お店、農場を再開されるよう、遠い所でも待っている人達がいる事を忘れず“元気を出して下さい”“待っています”。」(西川佳奈様の手紙)

飲むヨーグルトはスタートしました。食べるヨーグルトは４月１５日スタートです。

動乱の中には危険と機会が混在しています。いったい何をすべきかがわかったら腹をくくって率先して取り組まなければなりません。

リーダーから動かない限り、組織は動かない。

今日の１日、大声で吠えている私でした。

English Version:

April 3^rd, 2011

A Way to Production

The Tada’s handmade factory resumed its production on March 28th. The Pacific Belt Zone connects Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki prefectures, and it is here that their bases of production and distribution are, and where their factories were integrated. Particularly in the Sendai Port and its surrounding area, Kashima in Ibaraki and Oarai-Kaigan, there were a number of material and food factories. Since this area was completely destroyed, I have heightened my sensitivity toward how to secure the material and food for our own factory as well as how to rebuild the distribution system.

The distribution center of my farm and factory in Sendai was also swept away by the tsunami. I lost all stock and data of my merchandise. I’ve survived struggling with these two challenges: rebuilding my company and working on relief of the disaster in Kamaishi.

Although it’s behind the scenes, it is one of my business strategies to market "Only-one product" by processing milk from my own farm, and distributing and selling via my original channels. I came a long way to establish this system with much trial and error. The key of its success is foresight. After you set up a certain time to release your product into the market, you should illustrate your own story of marketing in detail with all information you collected, planning how to secure fresh cream, skim milk, oligosaccharide, and containers of the product.

On April 4^th, we finally resumed providing the Kansai area with our products. I received a letter from Ms. Kana Nishikawa, a resident in Hyogo-ku, Kobe, and appreciated her message. She said that she could not choose any other brand but Tada Katsuhiko's yoghurt ever since she had experienced it for the first time.

"Your yoghurt saved my life. Not only me but all those who enjoy your product look forward to having it again. I am praying for the soonest possible recovery of your business in order to save lives all over Japan. My house was also completely destroyed in the Great Hanshin Earthquake sixteen years ago. After spending 3 years in temporary housing, I was provided with a house by the reconstruction project. But I will have to move out in 5 years. Please remember that many people, including those who live far from your place, are waiting for your products, and for the restarting of your farm and stores." "Snap out of it." "We are waiting for you." (From the letter by Ms. Kana Nishikawa.)

We’ve restarted selling our yoghurt drink. As for regular yoghurt, it will come back to the market on April 15^th.

Dangers and opportunities are mingling in a convulsion. Once you find out what to do, you should take initiative with determination and make every effort to get down to it.

Without a leader going forward, any organization won’t move! – I was yelling all day today.

東北・関東大地震最前線レポート4/2

「ボランティア」

岩手の地は４月になっても寒い。特に朝、夕はマイナスの温度帯。自立支援センターに仙台サポートセンターよりボランティアが続々と入ってきました。

全国より希望して来た人達、３泊４日の日程で滞在してもらいます。幹線道路と街路と結ぶ道路は車が通れるようになり、個人宅の被災現場の土砂、ゴミ、流れ着いた破損品の片づけ作業に期待がかかります。

今月２０日頃まで入れ替わりでボランティアが駆け付けてくれ、１日最大で２０～２５人の受け入れの予定です。ボランティアの基本的な考え方は自己責任ですが、ここにきて市の行政に携わる人達の疲れが出てきていて、牛乳の申し出があり、２０ℓ届ける事にしました。


English Version:

April 2^nd, 2011

Volunteer

Here in Iwate it is still cold even in April. Especially in the morning and evening, the temperature gets to below 0°C.

Volunteers have started to come to Self-support Center via the Sendai Support Center. They have come from everywhere in Japan and will stay at the center for 3 nights and 4 days. Roads between highways and streets are open for cars, so it is expected that more mud, sand, rocks, garbage, and damaged material brought by the tsunami will be cleared faster.

I plan to have 20 to 25 volunteers a day at most who will come and go everyday. Self-responsibility is the main principle for volunteers. Civilian officers are now getting tired. I received requests from them to deliver some milk and I've decided to do so.

Italian version

Report del terremoto Tohoku-Kanto, 02 Aprile

“i volontari”

A Iwate fa ancora freddo in Aprile. Sopratutto di mattina e di notte la temperatura va’ sotto zero. I volontari mandati dal centro l’aiuto di Sendai sono arrivati uno dopo l’altro all’ufficio di centro associazione per la vita autonoma.  

I volontari arrivati da tutto il paese rimaranno qui per quattro giorni. Ora che sono collegate le strade principali e le strade non-principali, penso che loro ci diano un grandissio aiuto per eliminare i materiali franati, immondizi e pezzi arrivati con il tsunami.

Sino il 20 di questo mese, il massimo al giorno 20 o 25 di volontari arriveranno da noi in continuazione. Uno che lavora come un volontario deve avere fondamentalmente la sua  risponsabilità autonoma. Dopo passato quasi tre settimane, molti impiegati di comune sono fisicamente stanchi di eseguire loro impegni, perciò penso che i volontari possano essere un grande aiuto anche per loro. Ho ricevuto un ordine di latte così ho deciso di regalarne 20 littori.

東北・関東大地震前線レポート4/1

「ガレキ除き隊」

4月1日、新年度のスタートを切った。今日遠野緑峰高校生徒と先生21人、遠野葬祭のマイクロバスで釜石入り。釜石の大通りの破壊と浜町の魚市場の崩壊、巨大タンカーの陸揚げされた光景に、高校生たちは大変驚いていた。

午前11時から自立支援センター前のごみを全て除去。各民家の中からドロや破損品を持ち出し、道路に散乱するモノを手でつまみあげて、一輪車に乗せ、特に独居老人宅前は人も住んでおらず（避難しているためらしい）大変仕事の要請が多かった。

「ガレキ除き隊」は大奮闘し、釜石の被災者の方々に「こっちもお願いしたい」と依頼多数。「ガレキ除き隊」災害労働ボランティアはこれから大きな要請があるます。しかし交通手段が限られているため「できる人でできることをすぐにやる」考えで行動を起こします。

これから日本を支える力となることを期待される高校生に、この現実を見て、行動を起こしたことは、意義がありました。

生産技術科3年の阿部智樹君は「テレビは見てましたが、この状況をみて、まったく違う迫力に驚きました」、別の生徒は「バイオハザードなんてもんじゃない」などと言っていました。歴史の教訓は、現場にあり。

ガレキ除き隊作業前

ガレキ除き隊作業後はこんなにきれいに

ガレキ除き隊と自立支援センタースタッフ

Italian version

Report del terremoto Tohoku-Kanto , 01 Aprile

“La squadra per l’eliminazione delle macerie”

 Il primo Aprile è l’inizio dell’anno fiscale e scolastica in Gappone. Oggi siamo andati a Kamaishi con 21 sutudenti e insegnanti di liceo Toono Midorimine in un pullmino dell’impresa di pompe  funebre di Toono. Gli studenti erano sbalorditi nel vedere la devastazione di strada principale della città, il crollo del mercato di pesce a Hamacho e lo spettacolo orribile di scaricamento sulla terra di una petroliera di grosso tonnellaggio.

 Dalle 11, abbiamo iniziato di togliere tutte le macerie che si trovavano davanti all’ufficio di centro associazione per la vita autonoma. Dopo di che, abbiamo eliminato i fanghi e le macerie da ogni singolo abitazione e dalle strade usando i carriola. Molte richieste di nostro lavoro erano per le case dove abitavano gli anziani da soli per il fatto che non abitano attualmente nessuno. (penso che loro stiano al rifugio con gli altri abitanti)

“La squadra per l’eliminazione delle macerie” ha fatto gran lavoro, perciò abbiamo già ricevuto molte altre richieste. La nostra squadra di volontari farà anche molto più grande lavoro. Solo che il mezzo di trasporto è molto limitato. Quindi, dobbiamo organizzare in un modo che facciamo subito le cose che possiamo fare.

Era significativo che gli studenti licei, saranno di sicuro essere una forza per futuro di Giappone, guardando questa circostanza, hanno iniziato spontaneamente di fare qualche cosa.

Abe Tomoki, il terzo anno di liceo Toono Midorimine, ha detto : ho visto la scena tramite TV, ma quando l’ho vista con i miei propri occhi, ho sentito un altro sensazione molto più forte. Un altro studente ha detto anche : non si può paragonare con Resident Evil. L’insegnamento della storia sta al luogo del terremoto.

English Version:

April 1^st, 2011

April 1st is a new start in Japan. Today, 21 students and teachers from Ryokuho High School in Tono came to Kamaishi on Tono Funeral's minibus. The students were all stunned to see the destruction on the main street of Kamaishi, the collapsed Hamamachi fish market, and the huge tankers stranded on shore.

We started collecting all the waste in front of the Self Support Facility from 11:00 A.M. Next we took out sludge and destroyed articles from private homes, and then removed scattered rubble on the road into wheel barrows by hand. Houses which elderly people used to live in alone are now vacant as they seem to be staying at evacuation centers. In particular, roads in front of such houses needed to be cleaned.

The rubble removal team did a really great job. We got a number of miscellaneous requests for cleaning from afflicted people. There will be overwhelming demands for physical labor contributions like the rubble removal team. However, transportation is limited. We should act flexibly. Anyone who is able should do what they can.

It was meaningful for the high school students to face reality and take action. They are the ones who are expected to be the core of support for the future of Japan.

Senior high school student Abe Tomoki san, who is a major in manufacturing technology, said, "I've seen news on TV but the actual situation was more tremendous than I thought". Another student said, "I can't even compare with Biohazard". Lessons of history are always learned on the actual site. 

Spanish version

Report del terremoto Tohoku-Kanto , 01 Aprile

“La squadra per l’eliminazione delle macerie”

 Il primo Aprile è l’inizio dell’anno fiscale e scolastica in Gappone. Oggi siamo andati a Kamaishi con 21 sutudenti e insegnanti di liceo Toono Midorimine in un pullmino dell’impresa di pompe  funebre di Toono. Gli studenti erano sbalorditi nel vedere la devastazione di strada principale della città, il crollo del mercato di pesce a Hamacho e lo spettacolo orribile di scaricamento sulla terra di una petroliera di grosso tonnellaggio.

 Dalle 11, abbiamo iniziato di togliere tutte le macerie che si trovavano davanti all’ufficio di centro associazione per la vita autonoma. Dopo di che, abbiamo eliminato i fanghi e le macerie da ogni singolo abitazione e dalle strade usando i carriola. Molte richieste di nostro lavoro erano per le case dove abitavano gli anziani da soli per il fatto che non abitano attualmente nessuno. (penso che loro stiano al rifugio con gli altri abitanti)

“La squadra per l’eliminazione delle macerie” ha fatto gran lavoro, perciò abbiamo già ricevuto molte altre richieste. La nostra squadra di volontari farà anche molto più grande lavoro. Solo che il mezzo di trasporto è molto limitato. Quindi, dobbiamo organizzare in un modo che facciamo subito le cose che possiamo fare.

Era significativo che gli studenti licei, saranno di sicuro essere una forza per futuro di Giappone, guardando questa circostanza, hanno iniziato spontaneamente di fare qualche cosa.

Abe Tomoki, il terzo anno di liceo Toono Midorimine, ha detto : ho visto la scena tramite TV, ma quando l’ho vista con i miei propri occhi, ho sentito un altro sensazione molto più forte. Un altro studente ha detto anche : non si può paragonare con Resident Evil. L’insegnamento della storia sta al luogo del terremoto.

東北・関東大地震前線レポート3/31

「支援センター動く」

自立支援センター4月1日から活動するつもりでしたが、そうも言っておられず、3月30日より活動はじめました。全国から届いた物資、衣類、毛布、衛生用品でセンターの集会室は一杯になっています。すぐ物資リストを作り、必要な人に必要な量を届ける、不足品があれば行政にかけあい、持ってきて配布する仕組みで動きます。現在仕分けを手伝える人が少なく、市民の方々に協力いただいています。

医療スタッフは来ても次々と帰っています。それは、現場では充足しているということらしい。。しかし、今回の避難されたところは、いろんな地形と被災の状況によって、一様でない。多様性の避難になっています。こちらから多様性の避難地に指示を待って動くのではなく、自らがでかけていく医療がなければ、高齢者にダメージが大きい。

昨日(30日)千葉さんの遺体を宮城の娘さんのところに送りました。1階、2階は津波によって破壊され、6階に住んでいて、しばらく電気、水のない所で耐えていた千葉さん夫婦はその典型です。避難所ではなく、自宅で過ごす高齢者のなんと多いことか。地元医師会という壁、行政と日赤のはざまで、医療は受けられないものなのか。

Italian version

Report del terremoto Tohoku-Kanto, 31 Marzo

“il centro associazione per la vita autonoma comincia funzionare”

 Pensavamo di iniziare l’attività di nostro centro dal 1 Aprile, ma non era caso di aspettarlo, così abbiamo iniziato di farlo dal 30 Marzo. I soccorsi, gli indumenti, le coperte e gli articoli igienici arrivati da tutta parte di paese hanno riempito la sala di riunione del centro. Dobbiamo fare la lista dei soccorsi e disturibuirli con la giusta quantità alle persone che ne hanno bisogno. Se ne mancano, possiamo negoziare al comune e fargliene portare da noi. Attualmente le personali che si oppupano di dividere i soccorsi sono poche. I terremotati in rifugio ci danno una mano.

 Gli assistenti medici vengono, ma tornano subito alla loro casa. Questo forse vuol dire che i numeri di assistenti siano già sufficient. In realtà, la situazione delle zone colpite da terremoto-tsunami non sono tutte uguali secondo alla configurazione del terreno e al danno cambia. La situazione dei terremotati ha la diversità. I medici non devono aspettare. Non è il caso di aspettare la richiesta di soccorso ma bisogna recarsi spontaneamente dai pazienti e dalle persone che hanno bisogno di cura medica, sennò agli anziani come fanno?.

 Ieri, 30 Marzo, abbiamo trasportato la salma di Sig.Chiba a sua figlia. I Sig.ri Chiba che abitavano con la sofferenza al sesto piano senza luce e acqua visto che il primo e secondo piano di loro abitazione sono distrutti da tsunami erano un esemplare di questo fatto. Ci sono molti anziani che vivono nella loro casa anziche nel rifugio. Per una barriera che esiste tra l’associazione medica locale, l’amministrazione pubblica lorale e la Croce Rossa Giapponese, gli anziani non possono avere l’assistenza sufficiente? 


English Version:

March 31^st, 2011

Activating the Self Support Facility

We were to start our activities at the Self Support Facility from April 1st. But considering the current situation, we started March 30th. The meeting room is now full of relief goods such as clothes, blankets, and sanitary goods from all over Japan. We have built a system to deliver the right things to the right people. We make a supply list to deliver the supplies to people as needed and if anything is missing, we negotiate with the government. As there are only a few people who can help sort the goods, we rely on the help of the citizens.

Medical staff who have finally come to help go back one after another as the site seems to have sufficient medical man power. But the condition of each shelter differs according to its land form and damage. People are taking refuge under various conditions. Medical care must not be done passively just waiting for instructions. Without an active approach, the elderly will be seriously affected.

Yesterday, March 30th, we sent Chiba san's body to her daughter in Miyagi. Chiba san lived on the 6th floor of a building where the 1st and 2nd floors were destroyed by the tsunami. Mr. and Mrs. Chiba were typical elderly people who tried to endure in a place with no electricity or water. It is shocking to know how many elderly people are still staying in their homes. How can anyone get proper medical care facing the barrier of the local medical association and being sandwiched between the government and the Red Cross?