Of the "disaster relief funds" lent by Hyogo Prefecture to rebuild the lives of those affected by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, about 200 million yen, for which there is no prospect of repayment, is owed by the prefecture. In light of the fact that the population is aging and the economic situation is further deteriorating, we decided to waive the full amount.
Hyogo Prefecture has cooperated with the national government to provide disaster relief funds to people whose homes were destroyed by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and other disasters so that they can rebuild their lives. We loaned 53.2 billion yen to 5,000 people.
After that, measures were taken to exempt some low-income households, but as of the end of September this year, about 200 million yen invested by the prefecture has not been repaid.
Under these circumstances, Hyogo Prefecture has established a policy of exempting the full amount, saying that it will be difficult to ask for further repayment because the debtors are aging and the economic situation is getting worse.
In addition, the prefecture and the city will ask the national government to exempt the unpaid portion of the investment made by the national government.
Governor Saito told NHK that he decided to put an end to the 28th anniversary of the earthquake.