By KOSUKE TAUCHI/ Staff Writer
April 12, 2022 at 15:43 JST
Ukrainian evacuees arrive at Narita Airport on a commercial flight from Poland on April 9. (Shinnosuke Ito)
Ukrainian evacuees in Japan who have no relatives or acquaintances here will receive a lump-sum payment of up to 160,000 yen ($1,280) when they leave temporary accommodation to move into new housing.
The Immigration Services Agency announced the financial support measures on April 11 for Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion of their homeland but have no one to depend on in Japan.
The agency laid out its plan to provide 1,000 yen a day to evacuees who are 12 and up for their living expenses during their temporary stays in Japan. Those under 12 will receive 500 yen per day.
It will also arrange hotel accommodations and meals for them.
After the Ukrainians leave the hotels to move into new residences offered by local governments or private companies, the agency will provide a one-time payment of 160,000 yen to those 16 or older and 80,000 yen to those under 16 to ease the financial burden of buying new furniture and home appliances.
The agency will continue its daily payments to the evacuees even after they end their hotel stays. The amount will be raised to 2,400 yen for those 12 and older and to 1,200 yen for evacuees under 12 to help cover utility expenses and food costs.
The agency referred to the amounts paid to those on welfare in Japan when deciding how much it should offer the Ukrainians for their living expenses during their stays, according to an official.
The payments to the evacuees are expected to continue for around six months after their arrival in Japan.
The subsidy is mainly aimed at evacuees who have no one to rely on in Japan, but the agency may also provide financial support to those who have acquaintances here but still require such assistance, according to an official.
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