ID :
138448
Fri, 08/20/2010 - 07:18
Auther :

Gov`t prepares for chopper dispatch to flood-hit Pakistan

TOKYO, Aug. 19 Kyodo -
The Japanese government on Thursday began preparing for the dispatch of a
helicopter unit to flood-hit Pakistan on a humanitarian relief mission, the
foreign and defense ministries said.
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa instructed the Ground Self-Defense Force to
collect information, coordinate with relevant entities and organize a troop
unit to prepare for the dispatch.
It will be the first dispatch of GSDF helicopters as part of Japan's disaster
relief operations since 2005, when choppers were sent to quake-hit Pakistan,
according to government officials.
The helicopter unit is expected to consist of six UH-1 utility and CH-47
carrier helicopters and more than 300 troops, the officials said.
As members of an advance team, 21 SDF troops were set to leave for Pakistan on
Thursday night to confirm local needs and conditions to accept the helicopter
unit. Kitazawa is expected to order the unit's dispatch to Pakistan possibly on
Friday.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters the SDF troops will likely
operate in the southern part of Pakistan, where security conditions are
relatively stable, to provide food and medicine to flood victims and transport
those injured to hospitals.
''This is a large-scale disaster and the international community is determined
to provide support for Pakistan. We also took note of Pakistan's importance in
dealing with neighboring Afghanistan, which is said to be a hotbed of
terrorism,'' Okada said.
The government's move came after the Pakistani government made a request for
the Japanese helicopter unit and a Japanese fact-finding mission inspected the
country. Islamabad had asked Tokyo to provide support for northern areas of the
country, where large numbers of people are marooned in inaccessible areas.
Okada also said the United States earlier had unofficially sought Japan's
assistance for the disaster-hit country.
The SDF personnel will carry no weapons while being engaged in disaster relief
activities in line with the government's policy.
Tokyo has already announced emergency grant aid and other relief items of up to
$14.4 million to help Pakistan grapple with the disaster.
The recent floods in Pakistan have left more than 1,600 people dead and 14
million displaced.
==Kyodo

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