With support withdrawn, evacuees may have no choice but to return

Last year, the home in Date City, Fukushima Prefecture where Mr. and Mrs. Sugano lived with their three children,  son Koutarou, 9, daughter Kae, 6, and son Shinjirou 5, was discovered to be located in a radioactive hotspot.  The home was classified as an area for evacuation and the family was relocated to temporary housing through government support.

 去年菅野家の伊達市霊山町小国にある家は特定避難勧奨地点になって避難しました。

In September of this year, the Sugano family home underwent the government-sponsored decontamination process, which I documented HERE, HERE and HERE.

今年の秋に市の計画により除染が行われた。

The Sugano Family home undergoes "decontamination" in September 2012.

On December 15, the Sugano's received a letter from the government stating that the decontamination of their home was complete and that the classification of their home as an "area for evacuation" was being rescinded.

 

１５日に市からの一通の手紙で解除になりました。

The letter stating the Sugano's house is no longer classified as "an area for evacuation".

Mrs. Sugano wanted to test the radiation levels herself, so she returned to the family home today.

今日菅野さんは自宅の線量を自分の目で確かめるため家に戻りました。

Mrs. Sugano measuring the radiation level at their home on December 19, 2012.

She took photos to prove the radiation levels are still high even after “decontamination”.

除染されても放射線量がまだ高いので今日菅野さんは証拠写真を撮りました。

Radiation levels outside the Sugano Family home remain high even after "decontamination".

 Right outside the “decontaminated” house the radiation is still 2.18 µSv/.

除染が終わっているにもかかわらず、雨樋の付近はまだ2.18 µSv/h。

Right outside the “decontaminated” house the radiation is still 2.18 µSv/h.

Although the house itself has been “decontaminated”, the immediately surrounding street, mountains and land has not.

家の敷地は除染されていても周りの道路、山林などは除染されていない。

The areas surrounding the Sugano Family home have not been "decontaminated".

Directly across the street the radiation remains at 3.54 µSv/h.  If the children returned here to live, they would walk by this area on their way to school.

家の敷地外では放射線量はまだ3.54 µSv/h もし子どもたちが戻され生活をすればここは学校へ行く通り道。

Directly across the street from the Sugano Family home the radiation level remains at 3.54 µSv/h.

Since the government has lifted evacuation orders on the Sugano Family home, their evacuation support will not be renewed, effectively forcing them to return to home.  The Sugano’s son Koutarou, 9, daughter Kae, 6, and son Shinjirou 5, will be forced to live in a contaminated house surrounded by areas of high radiation.

菅野さんの家は避難解除になる事により避難するためのサポートも解除になり自宅に戻される事になる。菅野さんの子どもたち輝太郎９才花笑６才と真次郎５才は高い放射線量に囲まれた汚染された家に住まなければならなくなる。

The Sugano’s son Koutarou, 9, daughter Kae, 6, and son Shinjirou 5, at their temporary accommodation on December 18, 2012.