Japan To Provide ¥100 Billion For Quake Relief

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that the government will extend an additional ¥100 billion ($690 million) from reserve funds under the fiscal 2023 budget within the month to help improve the living conditions of people affected by a powerful New Year's Day earthquake that struck central Japan, as reported by Kyodo News.

Kishida's remarks about using reserve funds for an emergency aid package that the government is compiling came as he visited areas devastated by the quake. I Photo: Prime Minister's Office of Japan X

His remarks about using reserve funds for an emergency aid package that the government is compiling came as he visited areas devastated by the quake that hit Ishikawa Prefecture and surrounding areas to assess the damage and meet affected people.

The emergency package will comprise measures such as securing temporary housing for those affected and rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the magnitude-7.6 quake that struck the Noto Peninsula on the Sea of Japan coast.

The package will also include steps to process disaster waste and help rebuild industries, including farming, fishing, and tourism.

Last week, Kishida's Cabinet agreed to extend ¥4.74 billion from reserve funds under the fiscal 2023 budget to help finance relief measures, including those that help affected residents better cope with the cold weather in the region.

The death toll from the disaster was 221 as of Saturday, with people in disaster-stricken areas facing the challenges of severed roads and no water supply.

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