Japan government announces disaster relief budget
The devastation has been described as the country's biggest crisis since the end of World War IIThe Japanese government has announced a 4 trillion yen ($48.9bn; £29.6bn) emergency budget for disaster relief, after March's earthquake and tsunami.
The budget is expected to be submitted to parliament later this month, and could be implemented in May.
Authorities say no new bonds were issued to fund the spending, to prevent adding to Japan's huge public debt.
The government estimates it will cost as much as 25tn yen to rebuild the country.
The emergency budget is aimed at disaster relief, including providing temporary housing, restoration of infrastructure and disaster-related loans.
The 11 March earthquake left more than 27,000 people dead or missing.
It also destroyed infrastructure in the north-eastern part of Japan and triggered a nuclear disaster.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan has said this could be the first of several extra budgets needed to fund reconstruction.
FinancingThe budget will be financed by taking 2.5tn yen from pension funds, as well as money set aside to increase payments to families with children.
Money from emergency reserves is also being used.
The Ministry of Finance said on Friday that it would issue an extra 2tn yen in government bonds to increase loans to businesses affected by the disaster.
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