Japan Press Weekly

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2016 March 9 - 15 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Fukushima evacuees request continuation of housing aid

Voluntary evacuees of the Fukushima nuclear accident on March 9 visited relevant ministries and agencies to submit a written request demanding the continuation of housing assistance.

Voluntary evacuees are those who fled their home in areas outside the evacuation zones designated by the central government. The Fukushima prefectural government is planning to end its program to provide rent-free housing to voluntary evacuees at the end of FY 2016.

A man who evacuated to Sapporo City in Hokkaido from Fukushima City criticized the national government for leaving the issue regarding evacuees’ housing assistance to the local government.

A woman now living in Kizugawa City in Kyoto said, “Regardless of whether I choose to live in the present place or go back to Fukushima, I need financial assistance. I think the national government should implement housing support measures for the Fukushima nuclear meltdown sufferers.”

A man who used to live in Fukushima’s Date City and evacuated to Sapporo City said, “I want the state to listen to individual residents’ claims about damages we incurred with the nuclear disaster.”