Latest news with #temporaryshelters
Japan Times
21-07-2025
- Japan Times
Temporary child protection facilities in major cities hit capacity as staff shortages deepen
Temporary shelters for children removed from abusive or otherwise unsafe environments are operating beyond capacity in major urban areas across Japan. These facilities, overseen by local child welfare centers known as jido sodanjo, are facing mounting pressure due to severe staff shortages and extended stays by children who have nowhere else to go. In Japan, children are taken into custody under the Child Welfare Act when deemed necessary by the head of a child welfare center or a prefectural governor, such as in cases in which abuse is suspected. The temporary shelters are either attached to or located near child welfare centers. Children are typically placed under protection for a period of up to two months, during which they receive health care, educational support and other services as part of a broader assessment to determine their future care arrangements. According to the Children and Families Agency, average occupancy rates at temporary protection facilities in Tokyo as well as Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures exceeded 100% in fiscal 2023. Children are also staying longer in these shelters: while the average stay at facilities across the country in fiscal 2021 was 32.7 days, the average stay in Chiba was 75.5 days, and over 40 days in both Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. As reports of child abuse continue to rise nationwide, so too does the number of children taken into temporary protective custody — a trend that has persisted for years. In fiscal 2023, 270 child welfare officers left their posts at child welfare centers nationwide. More than 80% cited mental or physical health issues or dissatisfaction with their work environment as reasons for resigning, the agency said. Some cases have resulted in legal action. In Chiba, a former employee filed a lawsuit against the local government, claiming they had been forced to work long hours at a facility housing twice the number of children allowed under its official capacity. In March, a district court ruled that the prefecture had violated its duty of care and ordered it to pay roughly ¥500,000 ($3,367) in damages to the former employee. Takayuki Suzuki, a professor in the Department of Child Studies at Toyo University and a former child welfare officer, said that many workers in these facilities are nonregular staff with unstable wages and, as such, are reluctant to take on night shifts, leading to chronic understaffing. 'There are constant unreasonable demands and complaints from parents, and staff can't take time off when they need to,' Suzuki said. 'Public interest in the issue is low, so people quit before they ever feel any sense of purpose.' He added that alongside improving working conditions, it's crucial to maintain and build staff motivation — and that doing so will require a broader societal understanding of what child protection workers are up against. Japan is moving to mandate the presence of specialized staff at temporary child protection shelters. However, concerns are mounting over whether the new standards are sufficient to meet the complex needs of children in these facilities — many of whom require medical care or have experienced trauma. The central government has made it compulsory since fiscal 2024 for shelters run by child welfare centers to employ at least one specialized nurse per facility, with a five-year transition period in place to allow for implementation. But some nurses with experience in the system are calling for a reassessment of the policy. Yuka Miura, a 53-year-old nurse, worked for about a year at a temporary protection facility in the Tokyo metropolitan area. She was the sole nurse on staff, caring for more than 30 children — many of whom had suffered abuse. She estimates around 80% of those in care need some form of medical attention. According to Miura, the duties of nurses in such settings include monitoring children's health, managing medications, and accompanying them to hospital visits — tasks that go far beyond basic first aid. When she surveyed other nurses working in similar facilities across the country, she found that most said the workload was too great for a single person and that staff turnover was high as a result. 'To provide appropriate care, the standard shouldn't just be 'at least one nurse,'' Miura said. 'It needs to be based on the size of the facility and the number of children in care.' In April, she submitted an online petition with 1,490 signatures to the Children and Families Agency, urging the government to revise the shelters' staffing requirements. Translated by The Japan Times
Khaleej Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
'No need to leave': Dubai Marina fire victims to continue at shelters after KT report
Hundreds of Marina Pinnacle fire victims who were earlier asked to vacate their temporary shelters by noon on Friday, June 20, can finally breathe a little easier. An official from Bunat Al Mustaqbil Owners Association, which manages Marina Pinnacle Tower (also known as Tiger Tower), confirmed to Khaleej Times on Friday that accommodation for all displaced residents has now been extended until further notice. 'Yes, we have extended for everyone until further notice,' the official said, without offering further details. The move comes hours after Khaleej Times reported that nearly 350 residents across four locations—Millennium Al Barsha, Samaya Hotel Apartments in Wadi Al Safa 3, Samaya Hotel in Deira, and Nobles Tower in Business Bay—had been given notices asking them to vacate by 12 noon on June 20. At Millennium Al Barsha, residents said they were informed by staff that they were no longer required to leave. MZ, who is staying at the hotel, told Khaleej Times: 'The staff at the reception told me not to worry. They said we don't need to check out and can stay for now. It was a huge relief.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Another Marina Pinnacle Tower resident staying at Nobles Tower, a 53-storey building in Business Bay, said: 'Building security staff went around all the apartments. They said police told them no one has to leave. Management has asked them to collect our details like IDs and tenancy contracts so that's what they're doing,' she said. At Samaya Hotel Apartments in Wadi Al Safa, where this journalist visited on Thursday evening, anxious residents expressed relief. 'We've been sitting with our bags packed all morning,' said one man. 'Now they've told us we can stay, and we're thankful. But we still need clarity. Some sort of written assurance would help.' Confusion, however, persists at Samaya Hotel in Deira, where not all residents have received clear instructions. 'A security staff member said we're staying. There's been no official notice, but I think it must be true as it's past noon and I'm still here,' said one resident. Help continues to pour Meanwhile, support efforts continue for those without any housing. A WhatsApp group called 'Accommodation for Tiger Towers', started by Australian expat Sevgi Anar, has become a lifeline for scores still stranded. Anar, who lives across from the fire-ravaged building, has been negotiating discounted rates with hotels and matching those in need with individuals offering spare rooms. 'Many of the people who need help were in shared accommodations. It's a huge challenge, but we're not giving up,' she said, while helping a couple check into a hotel on Friday afternoon. 'People are still stepping up. The community spirit is incredible.' On June 13, a massive fire broke out at Marina Pinnacle Tower, a 67-storey residential skyscraper in Dubai Marina also referred to locally as Tiger Tower. The fire erupted around 9.30pm and was brought under control by early morning. The Dubai Media Office later confirmed that all 3,820 residents from 764 apartments had been safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.
