Govt to lift evacuation orders for 9 municipalities

January 12, 2016

Govt. to help Fukushima evacuees return home

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html

Jan. 11, 2016 - Updated 23:31 UTC+1

The Japanese government says it will step up efforts to help evacuees return to communities affected by the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima Prefecture.

The government plans to lift all evacuation orders for 9 municipalities near the damaged nuclear plant by the end of March next year.

The plan excludes some areas that have the highest levels of radioactive fallout from the nuclear disaster.

Of the 9 municipalities where evacuation orders are still in place, evacuees from the city of Minami-Soma, the town of Kawamata and the villages of Katsurao and Kawauchi are allowed to stay at their homes overnight as they prepare to return if the orders are lifted.

But there are persistent concerns among evacuees about radiation and the living environment if they return.

The government plans to speed up measures to help rebuild commercial areas, medical institutions and welfare facilities in those communities.

The government also plans to help businesses construct factories, stores and restaurants with subsidies earmarked in the draft budget for fiscal 2016 that starts in April.