Topic: Long-Term Rebuilding Strategy Following Natural Disaster
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Alexander Clegg
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Japan position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
No countries are safe from natural disasters, Japan included. Whether it’s earthquakes and their resulting tsunamis, hurricanes, flooding, or volcanic action, Mother Nature’s power is incomprehensible. With respect to Japan, earthquakes and their resulting tsunamis are the biggest problems as Japan is located on the Pacific Rim. In the past, Japan has been riddled by earthquakes, including the 1923 Tokyo earthquake and the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.
A major problem of natural disasters is not the natural disaster itself, but rather the after effects, which can include immense damage to infrastructure and human casualties. From there, rebuilding is all the more difficult, as the governmental systems used to respond to such crises are sometimes compromised. Even after the immediate problems of natural disasters are solved, getting water and other important supplies to the victims, the long-term effects still run rampant. Recently, the country of Japan was struck by a horrific earthquake of magnitude 9.0, with massive tsunamis as a result.
In response to natural disasters, depending on the situation, nations may need immediate disaster relief and aid in the form of food, water, and other supplies. However, in the long run, nations cannot be left to fend for themselves. Continued support must be given. Damaged infrastructure must be replaced with the most advanced technologies that can be erected in the shortest amount of time. Resources must be provided as well to repair said infrastructure. Monetary funding must also be made available if requested. One major point to be made, however, is that aid should only be given if requested.
Japan believes that aid should be given, upon request, to the upmost extent by capable nations that are a part of the United Nations, and this aid should be continually given for a set amount of time, decided upon by the seriousness of the natural disaster. A committee should also be set up by the United Nations so as to decide the best way to utilize capital resources and natural resources, headed by the affected nation(s). Japan hopes that countries of the Group of Twenty will join in and help make the process of long-term rebuilding after national disasters be as efficient as possible.
