Embassy of Japan in the UK

Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Rescue team in Response to the Earthquake in the Southern Island of New Zealand

 

 

23 February 2011

In response to the earthquake that occurred in the morning of Tuesday, 22 February (Japan Standard Time) in Christchurch, the Southern Island of New Zealand, Japan immediately dispatched a joint emergency survey team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for the purpose of conducting surveys concerned with relief activities at the site. Today, 23 February, in response to the request by the Government of New Zealand, Japan dispatched the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Rescue team consisting of more than 60 personnel, with a view to searching for and rescuing further victims. The JDR Rescue team will arrive in the early morning on Thursday, 24 February (New Zealand Time), whereupon it will start conducting its missions. Mr Hayashi Tokunaga, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), departed for Christchurch from Narita Airport with the JDR Rescue team on 23 February; they will stay in Christchurch for several days. Mr Tokunaga will give advice to the JDR Rescue team, conduct consultations with the Government of New Zealand, and lead Japan’s local Task Force for the earthquake.

via uk.emb-japan.go.jp