Japan Medical Team Arrives at Philippine Isle

Tacloban, the Philippines, Nov. 14 (Jiji Press)--The main part of a Japanese emergency medical team arrived at Tacloban, one of the worst-hit areas in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines, on Thursday night. The group will begin activities in the city, located on the central Philippine island of Leyte, on Friday. Three members of the team were sent as an advance party to identify medical needs while the 22-strong main group followed. Members of the group met with Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez and were briefed on the current situation. The city cannot provide medical services because many hospitals were devastated by Typhoon Haiyan and medicines and other medical items are in short supply. Also on Thursday, three Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel entered Tacloban as an advance party. Japan is preparing to send some 1,000 SDF troops to the Philippines to help with emergency disaster relief. END