Hatoyama instructs offices to prepare for Chilean quake missions

TOKYO, Feb. 28 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama instructed government offices on Sunday to
prepare for reconstruction missions in Chile following a massive earthquake
that struck the country the previous day.
''Though we have received requests (from Chile) that countries refrain from
sending missions, we want to get ready to (send missions) anytime if necessary,
especially regarding reconstruction assistance, and I issued instructions to
that end,'' Hatoyama told reporters.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said the same day that two Japan International
Cooperation Agency staff members will leave Japan for Chile by the end of the
day to assess the need for emergency and longer-term assistance to the South
American country.
But he said no rescue or medical teams will be dispatched immediately because
the Chilean president and foreign minister have asked countries to refrain from
sending missions or providing assistance until the Chilean government can first
assess the situation.
Japan is considering providing financial and logistical assistance once it
receives a concrete request from the Chilean government, Okada said.
Of the 38 Japanese people in the central Chilean city of Concepcion, located
near the epicenter of the magnitude 8.8 quake that occurred in the early hours
of Saturday, up to 20 people have been confirmed safe, Hatoyama said.
Two Japanese Embassy staff members and one JICA member in Chile are also on
their way to the quake-affected area to gather information, according to the
Foreign Ministry.
On Saturday, Hatoyama conveyed his condolences to Chilean President Michelle
Bachelet for the suffering of her people caused by the quake, adding that Tokyo
is ready to provide necessary assistance, the ministry said Sunday.
==Kyodo