On July 11, the DPJ Great East Japan Earthquake Response Headquarters held its 4th hearing regarding the provision of living support to disaster survivors after they have started living in temporary accommodation.

During the past three hearings the Disaster Response Headquarters had considered how living support could best be provided to survivors after they had entered temporary housing. During these sessions various issues had been raised, such as that there are currently no centres in each group of temporary accommodation which can provide comprehensive living support to survivors, and that the various assistance-related programs established by central government are not being effectively utilized. As a result, this session took place, and included explanations of the problems faced by those living in temporary accommodation and private rented accommodation in each of the affected prefectures, a report on the assistance that had been provided up until now, and discussion of the way in which future assistance should be provided.

DPJ members of the House of Councillors Takashi Esaki and Tomiko Okazaki explained about the problems facing survivors in Fukushima Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture. A whole variety of issues were raised. These included the possibility of setting up Internet terminals at communal meeting points in temporary accommodation, setting up job hunting terminals in temporary accommodation and other living support centres, implementing measures to prevent suicide and alcohol dependency amongst survivors, ensuring that survivors evacuated to other local authorities can receive the normal services provided by local government, and confirming whether preparations have been made to investigate living conditions considering the possible health threats posed by noise and seismic vibrations, unpleasant odours, harmful insects and chemical pollution. After receiving briefings from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the assembled members discussed ways of improving ongoing efforts and taking legislative measures to respond to the various issues raised.