By Kayo Oda | Programme Coordinator
Three years have passed since the 3.11 the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, in Fukushima, significant number of people are still obliged to live in temporary housing complexes due to the damage caused by the earthquake, tsunami, and the nuclear disaster. Some people have lost hopes on going back to their hometowns altogether and have decided to settle down in the northern part of the prefecture, where radiation level is relatively low. New apartments have been built in the northern cities and towns to host these evacuees, but several disaster victims still remain in temporary housing complexes for various reasons.
To support the residents in temporary housing complexes, especially the children, AAR Japan provides play equipment to help them improve their physical and psychological health. Recently, we have placed new play equipment at the temporary housing complexes in Koriyama City and Miharu Town, where former residents of Tomioka Town now reside. Tomioka Town is within a 20 km radius of the Fukushima First Nuclear Power Plant whose nuclear reactors melted down and released substantial amount of radioactive materials. Due to the high radiation level, the former residents of Tomioka Town are still unable to go back to their hometown.
On April 25th, we brought swings and spring riders to the temporary housing complex in Koriyama City. During the day, children in nursery school visit the play area with their teachers; in the evenings, children living in the temporary housing complex play there with their friends. All the equipment is designed for children to play together, which facilitates not only children but also the parents to communicate with each other through play.
The teachers at the nurseryschool thanked us deeply and said, “All the play equipment is so colorful that just looking at them cheers us up. The swings can be used by children of all ages for various types of play. I am sure children will enjoy playing with this equipment for a very long time. Thank you for providing us with such great play equipment.”
(All pictures were taken at the Housing Complex in Koriyama City. May 20th, 2014.)
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