Two sides of the Japanese rescue efforts in Turkey

BY KOUKI WATANABE

Turkey was struck by a 7. 4 magnitude earthquake on August 17, 1999. More than 14,000 people died, more than 25,000 were injured and about 200,000 were affected by this earthquake. The Japanese government sent a lot of relief aid to Turkey. The Japanese government sent 34 rescue workers, 16 medical personnel, tents, generators, and temporary housing units which were used in the Great Hanshin Earthquake, and so on. These rescue workers saved a woman who was seventy-four years old from beneath the rubble after an interval of fifty-eight hours. This was given a lot of coverage by the Turkish media as well as the Japanese media.

But all of the facts were not told to the Japanese nation. I know of completely opposite facts to these through Japanese English newspapers. If the Japanese government doesn't tell the nation all of the facts, the nation will not believe the Japanese government or the Japanese media.

On the other hand, it was reported that some of the rescue workers' bad manners were criticized by the people of stricken areas and rescue workers of other countries. For example, they stayed at a luxury hotel and commuted to the stricken area like regular office workers who leave home in the morning and return in the evening. Hotel employees criticized them for acting like tourists. In addition, on the fourth morning after their arrival, they had already started preparation for returning back to Japan while rescue workers from other countries were still working. If the people of stricken areas had seen these actions, they would have been disappointed. So belief in the Japanese could be lost.

But not all Japanese rescue workers who were sent to Turkey were such people. Japanese medical personnel devotedly helped the people of stricken areas, and they got deepest gratitude of the people in Turkey. A Japanese non-government organization (NGO), The Japan Guardian Angels, also worked in cooperation with foreign NGOs night and day. In addition, a firefighter received some testimonials for his activities.

I cannot help but think that Japanese regard the rescue activities as a special action but not as a basic responsibility. Japanese rescue workers should pay more attention to how they are viewed by their counterparts in other countries and the people of stricken areas. Fortunately, Japanese rescue workers made a good impression in the Taiwan Earthquake which happened on September 20. Japan continues to strive to be recognized as a member of the international community.