Refugees' Welfare Benefits
外務省、難民保護費を打ち切り


難民保護費：不支給１２７人　家賃滞納で退去迫られる例も

　難民認定申請した外国人に国が支給する生活費「保護費」の要件を外務省が厳格化したため、支給を打ち切られたり支給が認められなかった難民が５月末で少なくとも１２７人に上ることがわかった。このうち１３人が住居を失い、１００人以上が家賃滞納で退去を迫られているという。調査したＮＧＯ「難民支援協会」（東京都新宿区）は「難民への理解が低い日本で、一度家が無くなると再び借りることは難しい」と話している。

　国が支給する保護費は１２歳以上の場合、１日１５００円の生活費と月４万円（単身者）の住居費などが支払われる。２月時点で受給者は２５６人で、外務省は半分に絞り込む方針を打ち出している。

　難民支援協会には「支給要件が厳しくなって保護費を打ち切られた」「従来通りなら支給の資格があった」などと難民申請者１２７人が相談に訪れた。このうち、打ち切られたのは９０人。１２７人の生活実態を調査したところ、大半が家賃を払えなくなったことを理由に立ち退きを迫られていた。家を失った１３人には、協会が協力者や安価な宿を探して宿泊場所を確保した。協会は同時に、独自の取り組みとして最大月３万円の生活費を援助しているが、原資を寄付に頼っているため援助自体が限界に達している。

　また「重篤な病気」が支給要件となったものの、病気を証明する診断書を得るために病院へ通う交通費すらなく、あきらめる難民も多数いるという。協会は「精神的に追いつめられている難民も多い。早急な要件見直しを国に求めたい」と訴えている。難民支援協会（０３・５３７９・６００１）では、他のＮＧＯと共に寄付を呼び掛けている。【村上正】

毎日新聞　2009年6月3日　15時00分（最終更新　6月3日　17時17分）


Refugees' welfare benefits cut off under tightened gov't regulations

Over 120 refugees living in Japan were not able to receive welfare benefits after the government tightened requirements for beneficiaries, it has emerged.

According to the Japan Association for Refugees, the government had either refused or cut off welfare benefit payments to at least 127 refugees as of the end of May. The refugees had applied for government recognition of their refugee status and were supposed to be entitled to welfare benefits.

The halt in payments, brought about by the Foreign Ministry's tightened requirements for benefit recipients, resulted in 13 of the 127 refugees losing their dwellings and over 100 being ordered to move out after they fell behind in rent payments.

"In Japan, where the public has a poor understanding of refugees, it is difficult to rent a place to live in again once you lose it," said an official of the association, which is based in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward.

Under the government's welfare benefit system for refugees, those aged 12 or over receive 1,500 yen a day for living expenses and 40,000 yen a month for housing, if the person is single. As of February, there were 256 foreigners who received the welfare benefits. However, the Foreign Ministry has announced that it plans to halve the number of eligible recipients.

The association surveyed the living conditions of the 127 refugees who made inquiries, and found out that most of them had been ordered to move out after falling behind in their rent payments. It managed to find cheap accommodation provided by supporters and others for 13 who lost their dwellings.

As part of its financial assistance program, the association supplies up to 30,000 yen a month to refugees who have been cast out of the government's welfare program. However, such measures are reaching their limit, as the association relies on donations.

Many refugees give up receiving welfare benefits just because they cannot afford the transportation fee to visit hospitals to obtain medical certificates showing that they are suffering from serious illnesses -- a condition under the tightened requirements, according to the association.

"There are many refugees who feel they are mentally trapped. We want the government to review the requirements as soon as possible," said the association.

For donations or other inquiries, call the Japan Association for Refugees at: 03-5379-6001.

(Mainichi Japan) June 3, 2009


難民保護費：外務省が支給の要件を厳格化　予算不足で

　日本で難民認定申請した外国人に国が生活費を支給する「保護費」について、外務省が今月から支給対象の要件を厳格化することがわかった。難民が急増し、予算が足りないことが理由。従来の「生活困窮」だけでなく、重篤な病気▽妊婦や１２歳未満▽観光ビザなどを持ち合法的に滞在しているが就労許可がない－－のいずれかに当てはまることとし、受給者を現在の半分に絞り込む狙い。全国で１００人以上が支給対象から外れるとみられる。

　保護費は８３年から支給。今年度予算は年１億数千万円。難民認定申請をし、審査結果が出るまでの間、収入がないなど、生活困難な外国人に支給する。１２歳以上の場合、１日１５００円の生活費と、月４万円（単身者）の住居費などが支払われる。

　法務省によると、難民認定の申請者数は近年増加。保護費の受給者も、１カ月平均で０７年度が９５人だったのに、０８年度（２月まで）は２０４人と倍増した。

　外務省人権人道課は「予算内でしか対応できず、他に方法がない。昨年下半期から受給者が急増したが、見通せなかった」と説明。国際人権擁護団体、アムネスティ・インターナショナル日本の寺中誠・事務局長（４９）は「保護費打ち切りは、国連難民条約に違反」と指摘している。【村上正】

毎日新聞　2009年5月6日　2時30分


Foreign ministry to cut cash assistance for refugee status applicants

This month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will impose stricter requirements on refugee applicants seeking government financial support, it has emerged.

The stricter requirements for cash assistance -- provided to refugee status applicants to help cover living expenses -- are intended to halve the number of current beneficiaries. The changes are being made due to a sharp increase in the number of refugees, leading to a shortfall in the support funds budget.

Under the new policy, refugee status applicants who are suffering from serious illness, staying in Japan legally without permission to work, pregnant or 11 years old or younger in addition to being impoverished will be eligible for benefits. It is expected that more than 100 current beneficiaries will lose support funding under the new system.

The support program -- which started in 1983 -- provides funds to refugee applicants while their applications are under review. Under the current system, those who are 12 or older without income can receive 40,000 yen per month for housing and 1,500 yen per day for living expenses. More than 100 million yen was allocated for the program in this fiscal year's state budget.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of applicants for refugee status has been increasing in recent years. The average number of people who receive benefits under the assistance program doubled to 204 people per month in fiscal 2008 (as of February) from 95 people in fiscal 2007.

"We can only provide benefits within the framework of our budget, and there are no other choices," said an official at the Foreign Ministry's Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division. "We couldn't predict that the number of the applicants would increase sharply in the second half of last year," the official added.

"Ending the cash assistance violates the United Nation's Convention relating to the Status of Refugees," said Makoto Teranaka, 49, secretary-general of human-rights protection group Amnesty International Japan.

(Mainichi Japan) May 6, 2009




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