Nationwide helpline on compensation

February 11, 2014

Volunteers advise on Fukushima evacuees' damages

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140211_17.html

A group of judicial experts sponsored a nationwide helpline to counsel evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear crisis on how to file compensation claims.

An organization of judicial scriveners held the event on Tuesday at 20 locations, including Fukushima and Tokyo.

The experts say there are still many evacuees who are not familiar with how to claim compensation from Tokyo Electric Power Company 3 years after the nuclear crisis.

In Tokyo, 10 people answered telephone inquiries from victims. One of them asked whether an evacuee who lived near the nuclear plant at the time of the disaster could be compensated despite lacking a local residence registry.

An expert answered that the person should be compensated and may be able to file a motion with a government-backed arbitrator that mediates settlements with the utility