Panel proposes 100,000 yen a month for Fukushima evacuees’ mental distress

June 22 (Asahi Shimbun) – All residents forced to evacuate or remain indoors because of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant will receive at least 100,000 yen ($1,230) a month for mental distress, a government panel said. “All evacuees have suffered similar pain and suffering in terms of having their daily lives greatly disrupted,” the screening panel on compensation for nuclear accidents said in guidelines agreed to on June 20. But the compensation plan has already been criticized as too small or unfair to those forced to live in evacuation centers. “Compared to the actual suffering that the evacuees are experiencing, I believe the 100,000 yen a month amount is too small,” Namie Mayor Tamotsu Baba said. “The central government should disclose the standards used in calculating the amount so the evacuees will be convinced.” Provisional payment of compensation for evacuation expenses will be made by household, but the compensation for mental distress will go directly to each individual evacuee, regardless of age or the number of people in a household. People currently living in evacuation centers set up at gymnasiums or other public facilities will receive an additional 20,000 yen a month because of the greater distress they face due to a lack of privacy in those locations. The panel used compensation amounts paid out through automobile liability insurance as a standard for determining the compensation amount for mental distress. Individuals hospitalized due to automobile accidents receive 4,200 yen a day in compensation. The amount of 120,000 yen was calculated using that daily amount as a reference point. Residents who have been instructed to remain indoors at their residences will receive 100,000 yen a month. All the compensation amounts will be paid out for six months from the accident. […]

Panel proposes 100,000 yen a month for evacuees’ mental distress