Having spent three years away from their homes, many Miyake Island residents forced to evacuate due to volcanic eruptions in 2000 are suffering amid a lack of financial support from the government.
Residents of the island, which is part of the Izu chain south of Tokyo, have received financial aid only once under the Natural Disaster Victims Relief Law.
Although a bill to secure aid for residential damage will be submitted to the Diet next year, the resulting funds will not cover evacuees' temporary shelter expenses, nor their resumption of daily life and work on the island.