Snow falls on Nanao. On the heights of the town on the Noto peninsula (central Japan), devastated by the violent earthquake of January 1, the Terada family enjoys a distribution of ramen in front of an evacuation center. The hot dish is good. The earthquake damaged the gas and water networks: it was impossible to cook at home.
The two children appreciate it, especially since they are not really aware of the seriousness of the situation. “At 2 and 4 years old, they are still small”, explains the mother, Yuko, who despite everything tries to hide her worry from them. The family home held up, but “there are a lot of scary lines”.
Aftershocks, the precarious conditions of evacuation centers, the change in living environment, or even the loss of a loved one, disrupt the daily lives of young people in the event of a disaster. A survey carried out by the Ministry of Education after the earthquake of March 11, 2011, in the east of the Archipelago, revealed that 18% of primary schoolchildren and 12% of middle school students suffered from post-stress syndrome. traumatic. Problems may take time to appear. The education council of the department of Hyogo (west) established, after the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, that the number of children needing psychological care had reached its maximum three years after the disaster.
In the Noto peninsula, where the earthquake left 232 dead, including a 5-year-old child, 21 missing and more than 1,000 injured, similar cases are expected. “The children often ask us when we will come home. We cannot answer them because it is very damaged. But I have the impression that they are less afraid because we are together”, explains a mother of three children. The family now lives in a classroom in a high school in Suzu, a town affected by the earthquake, but also by a tsunami.
“Give the impression of a journey”
The frequency of disasters in Japan is prompting authorities to provide more advice to parents to lessen the shock of a forced evacuation with children. “If it’s possible, you can spend some time at the hotel to make it feel like a trip. Some municipalities cover part of the accommodation costsexplains the public channel NHK on its site dedicated to disasters. Children can be agitated in evacuation centers, especially if the location is unfamiliar to them. To help them relax, bring familiar treats and toys. If you’re worried about the noise generated, consider coloring books or playing cards. »
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