• 
• 

 
On July 16, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the eighth meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters for the Heavy Rain in July 2018 at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“In the affected areas, persistent efforts are under way amidst the extreme heat, including search activities by front-line personnel, various work to restore infrastructure, such as water and railway services and roads, as well as cleanup activities of affected housing with the cooperation of volunteers. I would like to express my sincere respect and appreciation to everyone involved. I ask that everyone please be careful of heatstroke during their activities.
 
The people affected have many concerns related to rebuilding their lives and restoring their ‘nariwai’ (occupations and livelihoods that sustain people’s daily lives). In the affected areas in Okayama and Ehime, I heard directly from farmers and shop members who suffered catastrophic damages regarding their anxiety over the unforeseen situation. The Government will make every effort to support affected agricultural, forestry and fishery businesses as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to dispel their concerns and ensure that they can move a step forward towards resuming their operations. To this end, we have compiled the first batch of support measures today.
 
For the affected agricultural, forestry and fishery businesses, we will implement immediate assistance, including swift restoration of destroyed farmlands and waterways, prompt payment of agricultural mutual aid funds to those who suffered damages, interest-free disaster-related loans over five years, and assistance for the introduction of agricultural machinery essential for resuming agricultural operations.
 
For micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, we will implement measures such as financial supports, including a grace period for debt repayment and other additional measures as well as expansion of loans for micro enterprise mutual aid policyholders. We will assign one government official in charge for each company and provide custom-made supports carefully tailored to their respective needs.
 
Following the first batch of measures, we will continue to listen to the voices on the ground in order to respond to diverse needs and take additional measures depending on the state of damage. Speed is everything. I ask relevant ministers to carry out reviews and compile measures swiftly.
 
I will exert every effort to ensure that the affected agricultural, forestry and fishery businesses and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises can take steps towards recovery with a forward-looking attitude, and get on the path towards resuming their operations and rebuilding their businesses as quickly as possible.
 
I will continue to take measures that are more concrete and provide a clearer picture of the future for implementing emergency response and recovery work in the affected areas, rebuilding the lives of those affected, and restoring their ‘nariwai’ at the earliest possible date, from the standpoint of the people affected and following through with the front-line approach. I would like to ask for your continued cooperation and efforts.”