Japan To Use Sdf Planes To Send Relief Supplies To Ukraine's Neighbors
Japan's government has formally approved a plan to use Self-Defense Force aircraft to send relief supplies for evacuees to countries neighboring Ukraine.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees says more than 5 million people from Ukraine have fled to neighboring countries as Russia continues its invasion. The evacuees are reportedly struggling to obtain daily supplies.
In response to the UNHCR's request for help, Japan on Thursday endorsed a plan as part of international humanitarian relief operations, in line with the country's International Peace Cooperation Act.
Under the plan, Self-Defense Force transport aircraft will be sent to Poland and Romania about once a week from early May through the end of June, after picking up blankets and other supplies stored in the United Arab Emirates.
This will be the sixth time that Self-Defense Force planes will be used to carry humanitarian relief supplies overseas. The last time was in 2003, when they helped evacuees from Iraq.
The Japanese government had initially planned to load supplies in India as well, but decided to only make stopovers in the UAE after India refused to accept Self-Defense Force aircraft.