Residents of Noto Peninsula Urge for Government Support Amidst…

The residents of Ishikawa Prefecture’s Noto Peninsula, afflicted by a New Year earthquake and severe rainfall, are demanding swift government aid for reconstruction. Some locals criticize the timing of the upcoming House of Representatives elections, voicing doubts about their electoral participation amid ongoing hardships.

Voters in Ishikawa Prefecture, particularly on the Noto Peninsula, are urgently seeking government assistance for reconstruction following a severe earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day. The region has also experienced devastating rainfall, contributing to widespread challenges. Despite the pressing need for support, some residents express that the impending House of Representatives elections are ill-timed amid these calamities. At the Wakura Onsen hot spring resort in Nanao, where the earthquake has severely impacted local businesses, tourism operators attended election candidate speeches advocating for the community’s recovery. Tazuko Tada, an 88-year-old local resident, underscored the urgency of restoring the area, stating, “If the inns do not reopen, the town will not regain its vitality. I want support to quickly restore our former hot spring town.” In Suzu, a fisherman in his eighties lamented the worsening conditions due to continuing water outages, a consequence of both the earthquake and heavy rains. He remarked, “I won’t be able to earn a single yen as things stand now. I hope efforts will focus on restoring the fishing port.” The aftermath of the earthquake has forced residents such as Yoshiaki Sakakado, aged 61, to relocate to evacuation centers following severe floods that compromised their temporary accommodations. Having lost his home and witnessing the damage to his vehicle, he expressed a disinclination to participate in the elections, stating, “I feel unmotivated to go vote.” Local officials in Wajima noted that polling ticket distribution typically occurs only to registered residential addresses, leaving voters in evacuation centers uninformed of their ability to vote without a ticket. A 62-year-old gentleman living in one such center expressed a sense of resignation about the situation, stating, “It is not as if anything will change with the election, and I do not know what to hope for.”

The region of Noto, situated in Ishikawa Prefecture, has recently faced an unfortunate combination of natural disasters, including a significant earthquake on January 1 and subsequent heavy rainfall. The dual impact of these events has not only caused considerable structural damage but has also disrupted the livelihoods of residents reliant on tourism and fishing. With elections scheduled amidst the crisis, local citizens are grappling with the need for reconstruction while questioning the relevance of the electoral process in the face of their immediate struggles. This situation underscores the delicate interplay between democratic processes and urgent community needs in disaster-stricken areas.

In summary, the residents of Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture are in dire straits following a formidable earthquake compounded by torrential rains. With the onset of elections, calls for governmental assistance for reconstruction intensify, but many locals express skepticism about voting’s impact on their recovery. The current circumstances highlight the critical need for support while residents grapple with the logistical challenges associated with participation in democratic processes during disaster recovery.

Original Source: english.kyodonews.net