被災地の母子を支える

　４月から５月にかけて、アグネスさんは日本ユニセフ協会大使として、東日本大震災の被災地、宮城県と岩手県を訪問しました。支援物資を届け、現地の子どもたち、そして母親たちが何を必要としているのか、生の声を聞いてきたそうです。避難所で被災者と『ひなげしの花』を歌いながら、一緒に涙を流したと言います。刻々と変わる被災者のニーズに応えるため、ユニセフの活動は続きます。

　Nothing had prepared me for the tragic scenes of devastation I witnessed during brief visits to Miyagi and Iwate prefectures one month after the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake.

　I spent four days in each of the two prefectures.

　In Miyagi Prefecture, I visited Ishinomaki, Onagawa, Minamisanriku, Kesennuma and Yamamoto. In Iwate Prefecture, I visited Rikuzentakata, Yamada, Ofunato, Miyako, Kamaishi and Otsuchi.

　The landscape of these towns and cities was transformed by the monstrous tsunami that slammed into coastal areas of the Tohoku region after the magnitude-9.0 temblor.

　The devastation was unlike anything I had previously encountered. This is from someone who has been to war zones and visited sites of natural disaster all over the world.

　Whole towns and villages were wiped out. Debris from smashed homes was carried many kilometers inland. Wrecked cars and boats had been tossed about as if they were toys.

　I was at a loss for words to describe my emotions.

　The destruction was brutal, and recovery will take years. More than 24,000 people are either dead or missing. Even now, some 120,000 people are staying in shelters while waiting for temporary housing to be built.

　I visited the stricken areas as the ambassador of the Japan Committee for UNICEF.

　In the first month we were able to provide emergency goods like bottled water, diapers, underwear and food to the Tohoku region.

　After the initial effort, we focused on helping schools to reopen by providing them with desks, chairs, blackboards, computers and printers.

避難所の栄養状態が心配

　Now that most of the junior and senior high schools are operating again, we are working to reopen nursery schools and kindergartens.

　Many of these facilities were washed away. In many cases, the teachers and caretakers had been unable to find alternative facilities and supplies.

　So we helped them to relocate and provided the necessary items so they can start over. Our efforts have been warmly welcomed by both parents and caretakers.

　We are now tackling nutrition deficiency among children living in shelters. Many of the children aren't getting enough vitamins and protein in their diet. We are trying to find ways to provide the children with supplements or an extra dish during lunch at school to keep them healthy. This service is already under way in nursery schools.

　The twin disasters were a traumatic experience for many children. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will start to appear when people's lives return to normal. Children who lost their parents, siblings and relatives will have a hard time adjusting. We want people close to these children to be ready to cope with this situation.

　There are many things that need to be done, and we are ready to help in any way we can. During my tour of the stricken region, I was able to identify the needs of parents, teachers and children.

　Parents were concerned about nutrition, safety and the psychological condition of their children. They also need time to rebuild their lives. Teachers need supplies, nutritious meals, guidance in ways to cope with children with PTSD, and space for children to play. Children need to be entertained and listened to. They also need toys and books to stimulate them. These needs will change over time and we want to be ready for when that day arrives.

　Visiting the shelters as the ambassador of the Japan Committee for UNICEF was just one aspect of my trip. Because I am a singer, people in the shelters were overjoyed to see someone they recognized. They would come and hug me, cry with me, laugh with me and talk to me. Just being together seemed to be therapeutic for them. I would sing and they would be overcome with joy and laughter. I felt a really strong bonding with the victims. They treated me like a relative, and I felt their pain as if I had known them all my life. So much was said in so few words, and tears were not only of sadness, but also of relief and trust.

　I promised them that UNICEF will do whatever it can to help the children and urged them to tell us what they need, no matter how small or big. No matter what the needs are, we will try to find a solution.

　I have great respect for the people of Tohoku and I am confident they will be able to rebuild.

• witness(ed)　目にする、目撃する
• slammed into　〜に押し寄せる
• temblor　地震
• previously encountered　これまでに遭遇した
• war zones　戦地
• Debris　がれき、破片
• smashed homes　 壊れた家
• inland　内陸に
• Wrecked　大破した
• tossed　放り出される、投げ出される
• at a loss　途方にくれて、当惑して
• temporary housing　仮設住宅
• emergency goods　緊急物資
• diaper(s)　おむつ
• nursery...kindergartens　保育園と幼稚園
• caretaker(s)　保育士
• tackling...deficiency　栄養不足問題に取り組む
• extra dish　追加の一皿
• sibling(s)　兄弟姉妹
• psychological condition　精神状態
• entertained　遊んでもらう、楽しむ
• therapeutic　癒やしになる、治療の
• bonding　きずな、つながり