Rescue activities from Kobe

Especially after the earthquake, rescue activities for other disaster stricken areas are expanding gradually. Through the supportive activities in Turkey, I strongly felt the significance of visiting the disaster places. Same as the refugees, I was able to feel a sense of unity with the refugees in Turkey. I think my visit provided a form of mental care for the Turkish people. In Turkey, the refugees were eager to ask many questions about the restoration projects implemented after the earthquake in Kobe.

To my applause, there was little damage caused by fires in Turkey. That was thanks to the peoples' observance of the rules that banned wood- architecture. Wherever it may be, it is important for everyone to understand good rules and observe them. After the earthquake, there are many problems such as housing, mental care and so on. Above all, disaster prevention education is the most significant in order to prepare for any future disaster.

We have to keep remembering how much we appreciated the support from all over the world. That is what we, Kobe citizens, can do for the refugees in current disaster areas. For disaster prevention, we need to train stronger imaginations. In the disaster, we learned that the real disaster damage was above our assumptions and plans for the disaster. Whenever a disaster occurs, we have to take measures suited to the occasion smoothly.

-Student's impressions-

In this seminar, I was able to learn that just giving things to refugees sometimes was not so important. They needed human contact with others. I also remembered feeling it was precious to help each-other in the disaster.