For people who have evacuated to Japan from Ukraine, sponsors such as relatives and acquaintances are said to provide a certain amount of livelihood support.
When NHK conducted a survey of local governments accepting evacuees, approximately 30% of the respondents said that support provided by sponsors "needs to be improved." It is said that "trouble is occurring between evacuees" and so on.
It has been pointed out that there is a need to support underwriters as a whole society.
Living in a hotel without finding a sponsor
Some Ukrainian evacuees have not been able to find a sponsor even after about half a year since arriving in Japan, and they are forced to live in a hotel where they are temporarily staying.
Tkachenko Robert (18), who lived with his family in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, fled to Japan alone last August to escape an attack by Russia.
Since he has no relatives or other sponsors in Japan, he is staying at a hotel in Chiba Prefecture that the government provides as a temporary accommodation.
I have made friends with Ukrainians through a private support group and hope to live in the Tokyo area. has reached
People staying at a hotel temporarily are not allowed to work, and the living expenses provided by the government are limited to 1000 yen a day, so they say that going out is kept to a minimum.
Roberto said, ``When I came to Japan, it was safer than in Europe, and I was very happy to have food. I can't do it, and it's really painful," he said.
The Immigration Services Agency has informed me that I may be able to move to a house in Saitama Prefecture in a few months, so I said, ``I want to find a job and work immediately after moving. I want to go to the school and study Japanese," he said.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, as of February 15, 64 people were staying at the hotel where they were temporarily staying because they could not find a sponsor, and about 30 people were living in Roberto's hotel.
Multiple consultations for support groups "Cannot find a sponsor"
A private support group that supports Roberto has received multiple inquiries from evacuees, such as that they have not been able to find a sponsor, or that trouble has occurred with the sponsor. is.
Mariko Ukiyo, the representative of the support group, said, "I think it's true that the safety and life in Japan depends on whether or not there is an underwriter and the compatibility with that person. For Ukrainians who have no family or acquaintances. I am looking for a trustworthy underwriter with the understanding that the friends I have made in Japan are an essential part of my life, and that I cannot just go anywhere without complaining. I have to," he said.
Local government questionnaire Support for sponsors About 30% "needs improvement"
For people who have evacuated to Japan from Ukraine, sponsors such as relatives and acquaintances are said to provide a certain amount of livelihood support.
When NHK conducted a survey of local governments accepting evacuees, the local governments that responded that "improvements are necessary" were due to the large financial burden on sponsors and troubles with evacuees. I give reasons such as being there.
The survey was conducted by NHK from last month to this month for a total of 163 municipalities in 43 prefectures nationwide that were able to confirm the acceptance of evacuees from Ukraine, and we received responses from all of them.
Regarding evacuees from Ukraine, if there is an underwriter such as a relative, an acquaintance, or an organization, the government says, "It is assumed that the underwriter will provide a certain amount of support such as living."
When asked about the support provided by sponsors in the questionnaire,
▽ 59% answered that they were fine as they are, and
▽ 31% said that they needed to improve.
When we asked the local governments that answered that improvements were necessary with multiple answers,
71% answered that the financial and labor burden of the sponsors was large, and
▽ "The relationship between the sponsors and the evacuees 29% answered that they are having trouble, and
▽14% answered that they could not find a sponsor.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, about 90% of the people evacuated to Japan from Ukraine have sponsors, but these evacuees are not paid for living expenses, and the sponsors are not provided. I have not provided any financial support to
In the questionnaire, some local governments wrote, "The underwriters seem to be under a considerable physical and mental burden and need support."
Underwriters without financial support from the state
Regarding evacuees from Ukraine, the Immigration Services Agency assumes that "undertakers" will provide a certain amount of livelihood support.
When evacuees obtain a visa to Japan, they submit a "guarantee letter" prepared by a person who will act as a guarantor. Because it is possible, there are cases where we ask people who we do not know directly, such as getting acquainted through SNS.
Although the sponsors are not obliged to provide support, some of them not only provide advice on daily life, but also act as guarantors when renting a house and bear living expenses.
The government does not provide living expenses for evacuees with sponsors, nor does it provide financial assistance to sponsors.
On the other hand, the government directly supports evacuees who do not have a sponsor.
Specifically, while staying at a hotel as a temporary accommodation secured by the government, apart from the provision of meals, 1000 yen per day for those aged 12 and over and 500 yen for children up to 11 years old will be paid as living expenses.
In addition, even after the local government or company requests acceptance and leaves the temporary accommodation, 2400 yen per day for those aged 12 and over, and 1200 yen for children up to 11 years old.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, of the 2,185 people who have evacuated from Ukraine to Japan as of the 15th of this month, about 90% of the total have sponsors, and the rest do not have sponsors. is.
After quitting the company and becoming a sponsor, "a situation where you should help"
My name is Soko Takahashi (41) and I live in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture.
Last May, she quit her travel agency, where she worked for 13 years, to become a sponsor for Ukrainian refugees.
Regarding her motives, Takahashi recalls, "The Russian invasion was so shocking that I couldn't believe it was real. That's why I thought it was a situation where people who could afford to help should help." .
Through SNS, Takahashi started supporting her family, applying for prefectural housing, going through procedures at the city hall, arranging furniture and electrical appliances, and helping her find a job.
As a result, this family is now able to live independently in Aichi Prefecture.
Mr. Takahashi looked back, "I really respect that they are involved with various people at work and live with the support of many people."
Underwriters: “It is desirable for the government to set rules and implement them”
However, there were cases where such support did not go well.
Ms. Takahashi also became an underwriter for a Ukrainian woman who came to Japan alone, but she returned to Europe about five months later without any consultation and was unable to be contacted. It means that you are in a state.
Takahashi said, "It seems that the image of the stay was different from what she was looking for, so I think I made a bad decision. I feel sorry for the people who supported me. However, I wish her happiness. I was talking.
Regarding the role of underwriters, he said, "If Japan is to open its doors to refugees, language will become an issue, so I think that the presence of underwriters, etc., in the procedures at the city hall is essential. Since the content of support varies depending on the situation, it would be desirable for the government to use this experience as a lesson to determine unified rules regarding money and acceptance, and implement them nationwide." rice field.
Trouble Some cases of sexual harassment
On the other hand, one of the reasons for the need for improvement in the sponsorship system in this survey is the trouble with the evacuees.
A woman in her 20s who said she was sexually harassed by an underwriter responded to NHK's interview.
What I saw from the testimony was vicious words and deeds that took advantage of the weakness of the position of the evacuees.
The woman was living with her parents in Ukraine, but on February 24, 2018, when the invasion began, she received a message from a Japanese man in his 50s who had been acquainted with him at work and worried about his safety on SNS.
It said, "Are you okay? Tell me if you need help."
A missile landed near her home, and she wanted to leave the country as soon as possible.
After coming to Japan, she lived in an apartment provided by the government and received financial support from a private organization to help her live comfortably.
However, I began to feel uncomfortable with the behavior of her underwriter.
Men began to try to touch her hair and hug her against her woman's will.
In addition, it is said that he has talked about sexual topics and proposed to him even though he is married.
Also, one day the woman was asked by a man to hand over a spare key to his apartment.
In order to live in Japan, the evacuees often need the signature and consent of the underwriters, so the woman could not refuse. It is said that the man was going up on his own.
To protect herself, the woman told her that she had a boyfriend. It is said that he tamed a woman.
In addition, the man pressured the private organization that supports her living expenses not to hand over the support money because the woman had problems.
The woman was able to find a replacement beneficiary for her through an acquaintance who assists her evacuees.
Many of the evacuees are women and children in vulnerable positions. This woman said, "I am very grateful for Japan's support, but I want you to know that these problems are also occurring. Women who have evacuated from Ukraine I want you to protect me so that I don't have to feel the same way."
Immigration and Immigration Services Agency "Response in cooperation with local governments"
Regarding troubles between evacuees from Ukraine and sponsors, the Immigration Services Agency has also received consultations and information.
Regarding these troubles, we are responding to consultations at dedicated evacuees contact points that respond by phone and e-mail, immigration offices in various places, and cooperating with local governments.
Some of the evacuees have lost their sponsors due to troubles, etc., and there are cases where they are asked to stay in a hotel provided by the government for temporary accommodation.
Regarding support for underwriters, the Immigration Services Agency said, "While continuing support such as consultation services that we are currently doing, we would like to decide whether it is necessary for the country to respond according to individual circumstances." .
On the other hand, regarding the trouble between the evacuees and the underwriters, he said, "I would like to continue to call on the underwriters to take responsibility and support the evacuees."
NPO representative director "Minimum support should be guaranteed by the government"
Eri Ishikawa, Representative Director of the NPO Association for Refugees, which has been supporting the acceptance of refugees for many years, said, "In Japan, sponsors are not treated as familiar supporters, but as economic supporters. There is a lot of demand for such support, but I think it is too heavy."
He added, "There is a limit to the amount of support provided by the private sector and individuals, no matter how hard they try. Rather than relying on the system of sponsors, they can live as refugees in Japan by securing food, clothing, shelter, medical care, Japanese language education, and employment support. I think the government should guarantee the minimum support for this."
On top of that, she said, "It is necessary to use the acceptance of refugees from Ukraine as an opportunity to develop support and systems for refugees in Japanese society."