The challenge is to speed up the procedures necessary to support evacuees from Ukraine.

It has been two months in 24 days since the military invasion of Ukraine.

So far, more than 680 people have evacuated to Japan, but about 1 in 3 people have changed their status of residence, which is necessary for resident registration, etc., and promptly proceed with the necessary procedures for support. The issue is whether or not it will be possible.

The government has a policy of actively accepting refugees from Ukraine, and by the 23rd, more than 680 people have been evacuated to Japan.

Those who have evacuated are granted a 90-day "short-term stay" status of residence, and can change to a "specific activity" status of residence that allows them to work and stay for one year if they so desire.

If you change to this status of residence, you can register as a resident and join the National Health Insurance or open a bank account, but according to the Immigration Bureau of Japan, the status of residence will be changed as of the 20th of this month. The number of people who did this was 214, which is about one-third of the total.

In addition, the Immigration Bureau of Japan has received 1,271 requests for support such as housing and employment from local governments and companies as of the 21st of this month, but based on this information, it is in full swing. Support is expected to begin next month or later.

Two months have passed since the military invasion, and it is expected that the evacuation life will be prolonged.

Evacuees who have changed their status of residence

The couple who evacuated to their daughter who lives in Saitama Prefecture last month will change their status of residence in anticipation of a longer life in Japan, and will register as a resident at the city hall on the 25th.

On the other hand, as the evacuation life exceeds one month, relatives who are accepting people who do not speak Japanese are beginning to feel tired and stressed by attending the procedure and supporting their lives.

Lviv Willich (59), who lived in eastern Ukraine, and his daughter, Yuria Nemoto, who live in Sakado City, Saitama Prefecture, along with Selhy Willich (66) and grandson Brad Brown (12). I arrived in Ukraine on the 10th of last month and live with him.

The three applied for a change in status of residence required for resident registration and opening a bank account late last month, and the change was approved on the 22nd, about a month later.

Then, in the car of Mr. and Mrs. Yulia, I took about an hour to go to the branch office of the Immigration Bureau in Saitama City, and after waiting for three hours at the counter, I was able to receive the residence card.

The three will be registered as residents at the city hall on the 25th.

Mr. Lviv said, "It took me a while, but I finally got a residence card. I have a strong desire to do something, so I want to find a job in earnest."

On the other hand, Yulia is also busy raising a 5-year-old child, and as she evacuates for more than a month, she feels tired and stressed about balancing support and childcare for parents who do not speak Japanese.

It means that parents are always accompanied when they go to hospitals, government office procedures, shopping, etc.

Yulia says, "Since the life of my family is the most important thing, I'm glad that I'm close and safe, but I'm always in need of support, so I'm stressed and tired. I think there will be less. "

What is the current status of support for the 23 wards of Tokyo?

When I asked the 23 wards of Tokyo on the 21st and 22nd of this month about support for people who have evacuated from Ukraine, there was a voice saying, "We cannot make support measures because we cannot grasp the number of evacuees." It is clear that the status of residence, which is necessary to identify and support those who have evacuated, has not been changed.

When I asked the 23 wards of Tokyo if there were any people who had evacuated from Ukraine, 7 wards answered that they were "resident", while 16 wards were "not resident" or "not aware". I answered.

Regarding the ward's own support for those who have evacuated, there are 10 wards with "yes" and 13 wards with "under consideration" or "not".

The ward that says "yes" cites the establishment of a consultation desk with a Ukrainian interpreter, the provision of a lump-sum payment, and the rental of an automatic translator as its own support.

In addition, from the wards that said that their own support was "under consideration" or "not", there was a voice saying "We cannot make support measures because we cannot grasp the number of evacuees," and the local government has evacuated people. It is clear that the status of residence, which is necessary for understanding and supporting, has not been changed.

Takashi Goto, director of the Edogawa Ward Life Promotion Department, said, "People who rely on their friends and acquaintances are in a difficult situation to understand, and it is difficult to provide support. You can receive services as a ward inhabitant such as a child's school, so please apply. "

Professor Atsushi Kondo of the Faculty of Law, Meijo University, who is familiar with refugee and immigration policies, said, "Registration should be done as soon as possible so that the local government can grasp where the evacuees live and the support groups can convey information. For that reason, it is important for the government to proactively disseminate information to evacuees about the importance of switching their status of residence. "

On top of that, "It is very difficult for family members and acquaintances to support the evacuees alone. After promptly registering as a resident, local governments, companies, and private organizations will contact each other to provide support according to the person. It is necessary to create a menu and a system. "

Support for people who do not have a place to accept

For those who have evacuated from Ukraine and do not have a place to accept relatives or acquaintances in Japan, the government has secured a hotel for temporary stay and the "Asia Welfare Education Foundation", a public interest foundation commissioned by the government. The Refugee Business Headquarters provides food and other support for daily life.

During your stay at the hotel, you will be paid a lump-sum payment for living expenses such as 1000 yen per person per day and 2400 yen per day after that, and the government will bear the actual expenses for medical expenses and employment support as necessary. It is a policy.

For those who have relatives or other recipients in Japan, the Nippon Foundation will contribute more than 5 billion yen over three years, and one million yen will be paid annually as living expenses.

The Nippon Foundation will receive applications for 142 people from the start of acceptance on the 20th of this month to 5 pm on the 22nd, and if preparations are made after document screening, the payment will start from next month.