Support for Communities Affected by 2019 Typhoons Continues in Chiba
The longer it takes after the disaster, the more complex and challenging cases are found in terms of support.
Communities in the southern part of Chiba Prefecture, Japan were hit hard by typhoons Faxai and Hagibis in 2019. The PBV team has been working closely with the local support groups and public sectors to continue the relief efforts.
The house we visited today with the local Social Welfare Council members was assessed as half destroyed. Despite the emergency repair system being applied and a sum of JPY 595,000 being granted, the amount was not sufficient enough to cover all of the repair costs. Consequently, the roof remained partially unrepaired for over the two years since the typhoon.
Such a case is registered as “support completed” at the administrative level as the subsidy process has been completed. However, the part of the roof remained with the damage let to the interior deteriorate, and the resident was left with no choice but to withstand the situation. Moreover, the damaged roof was not visible from the roadside for this case, thus his neighbors did not notice the situation. What made the situation more challenging was that the resident was unable to speak out and explain the situation with external supporters due to his personal conditions.
Thanks to the help of a local care manager, the needs of the residents finally came to light after two years. Sadly, this is not a rare case in the affected communities.
We reassured that there are residents who are still living in patience at this moment, and we must not stop our activities. It was a day to renew our determination.
Process for a full recovery from a disaster requires long-term support. As the cold winter is setting in, lives in the disaster-affected communities get even more difficult. The relief project has been supported by Japan Platform, donations from companies and individuals. Please help us to help those in extremely challenging conditions. Visit our DONATE page and find out how you can support us this Giving Tuesday.