GENEVA, 9 July 2012 - Governor Toshizo Ido runs Japan's Hyogo Prefecture which has become synonymous with disaster risk reduction. Hyogo Prefecture, home to 29 cities, was tragically thrust into the limelight in 1995 when it was hit by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake which caused great destruction and the loss of 6,300 lives mainly in Kobe, Awaji and Takarazuka. Over 40,000 people were injured.

1.THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE10-YEAR RECONSTRUCTION OVERALL VERIFICATION AND RECOMMENDATION PROJECT

The region stricken by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake is morally obliged to pass on to succeeding generations the experience gained and lessons learned in the process of reconstruction, and to put this knowledge to good use in mitigating the effects of and recovering from large-scale disasters in the future. Therefore, by carrying

2. HYOGO PREFECTURAL GOVT, WHICH COVERS CITY OF KOBE AND VICINITY, ESTIMATES DIRECT DAMAGE AT USD 95 BILLION, INCLUDING USD 58 BILLION DAMAGE TO HOUSING.

3. ONE COMMUTER TRAIN LINE TO CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF KOBE RESUMED SERVICE YESTERDAY. STILL NO DIRECT TRAINS BETWEEN OSAKA AND KOBE, BUT SHUTTLE BUSES COVERING THIS AREA. EMERGENCY REPAIR OF PORT OF KOBE ENDED 31 JANUARY. 68 BERTHS NOW AVAILABLE,

2. GOVT ISSUED CABINET ORDER TODAY, ENABLING AFFECTED LOCAL GOVTS TO RECEIVE SPECIAL SUBSIDIES FOR RECONSTRUCTING PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ALLOWING AFFECTED PEOPLE TO BENEFIT FROM SPECIAL LOANS TO HELP RESTORE THEIR BUSINESSES.

3. CLEARING OF ROADS PROCEEDING, AND LOCAL BUS SERVICES TO KOBE HAVE RESUMED OPERATIONS. SO FAR, 220,000 TELEPHONE LINES HAVE BEEN RESTORED. 60,000 HOUSEHOLDS STILL AWAITING

2. PRIME MINISTER HAS DESIGNATED ONE CABINET MEMBER TO BE EXCLUSIVELY IN CHARGE OF RELIEF MEASURES. 30,000 POLICEMEN, 5,000 FIRE/RESCUE PERSONNEL AND 14,000 SELF-DEFENSE PERSONNEL WORKING ON SITE.

3. SHINKANSEN EXPRESS TRAIN SERVICE HAS RESUMED BETWEEN KYOTO AND OSAKA. COMMUTER TRAIN SERVICES RESUMING. PORT OF KOBE PARTLY RESTORED, ENABLING MASSIVE SEA TRANSPORTATION OF RELIEF ITEMS INTO KOBE. FLEETS OF PRIVATELY OWNED HELICOPTERS

2. GOVT ASSESSMENT TEAM REPORTED BACK TODAY ON THEIR FIRST FINDINGS. PRIME MINISTER WILL VISIT AFFECTED AREA ON 19 JAN. A TOTAL OF 40,000 POLICE AND SELF DEFENSE PERSONNEL HAVE MOBILIZED FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF ACTIVITIES. 83 PROFESSIONAL RESCUE TEAMS FROM ALL OVER JAPAN ARE ENGAGED IN SEARCH AND RESCUE.

3. JAPANESE RED CROSS SOCIETY HAS SENT 32 MEDICAL TEAMS. IT IS ALSO DISTRIBUTING BLANKETS AND HOUSEHOLD