Health Ministry’s report: Number of A-bomb survivors falls below 110,000 for the end of March, average age 85.58
Jul. 2, 2024
by Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writer
The number of A-bomb survivors holding an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate was 106,825 at the end of March, falling below 110,000 for the first time, according to a report released on July 1 by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The average age rose 0.57 years from the same time last year to a record high 85.58. The number of people who know the horrors of the atomic bombings continues to decrease, and passing down their experiences is a challenge.
The Ministry compiled data of certificate holders managed by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as by prefectural governments. The number of certificate holders decreased by 6,824 from 113,649 a year ago. Among certificate holders, 2,388 live abroad, a decrease of 136. The total number of A-bomb survivors is now less than 30% of the peak of 372,264 in 1981.
During the past year, 8,974 A-bomb survivors died. A total of 2,150 new certificates were issued, 2,091 of which were issued based on the new criteria for certification of victims of the “black rain” caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The number of certificate holders managed by the City of Hiroshima was 37,818, a decrease of 1,556. Their average age was 85.2, up 0.58 years. The number of those managed by Hiroshima Prefecture, excluding the city of Hiroshima, was 13,457, a decrease of 629. Their average age was 86.62, up 0.29 years.
In terms of the number of recipients of various allowances nationwide, recipients of a health care allowance (36,900 yen per month), which is paid to those who suffer from certain illnesses, sat at 86,921, a decrease of 6,682. The number of recipients of the special medical subsidies (150,020 yen per month), which is given to those certified as having A-bomb related diseases, decreased by 491 to 5,165.
(Originally published on July 2, 2024)
The number of A-bomb survivors holding an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate was 106,825 at the end of March, falling below 110,000 for the first time, according to a report released on July 1 by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The average age rose 0.57 years from the same time last year to a record high 85.58. The number of people who know the horrors of the atomic bombings continues to decrease, and passing down their experiences is a challenge.
The Ministry compiled data of certificate holders managed by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as by prefectural governments. The number of certificate holders decreased by 6,824 from 113,649 a year ago. Among certificate holders, 2,388 live abroad, a decrease of 136. The total number of A-bomb survivors is now less than 30% of the peak of 372,264 in 1981.
During the past year, 8,974 A-bomb survivors died. A total of 2,150 new certificates were issued, 2,091 of which were issued based on the new criteria for certification of victims of the “black rain” caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The number of certificate holders managed by the City of Hiroshima was 37,818, a decrease of 1,556. Their average age was 85.2, up 0.58 years. The number of those managed by Hiroshima Prefecture, excluding the city of Hiroshima, was 13,457, a decrease of 629. Their average age was 86.62, up 0.29 years.
In terms of the number of recipients of various allowances nationwide, recipients of a health care allowance (36,900 yen per month), which is paid to those who suffer from certain illnesses, sat at 86,921, a decrease of 6,682. The number of recipients of the special medical subsidies (150,020 yen per month), which is given to those certified as having A-bomb related diseases, decreased by 491 to 5,165.
(Originally published on July 2, 2024)
