Plane Carrying 20 Ukrainian Evacuees To Soon Arrive In Japan
A Japanese government aircraft carrying 20 evacuees from Ukraine is expected to arrive in Japan around noon on Tuesday, Japan Time.
The move comes after Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa visited Poland as a special envoy of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to make preparations for receiving Ukrainian evacuees in Japan.
During the visit, Hayashi inspected a facility that houses Ukrainian evacuees and met Polish President Andrzej Duda and other senior government officials. Japan and Poland agreed to work in tandem to support Ukrainians who have been forced to evacuate.
He told reporters in Poland on Monday that he witnessed the hardship that evacuees are facing after being forced to leave their country due to the Russian invasion.
He said that this had renewed his belief that the Japanese government should work with the international community to provide the evacuees with full support so that they will be able to return to normal life as early as possible.
Hayashi said that Japan will accept 20 evacuees on humanitarian grounds who did not have a means of making their way to Japan despite their wish to do so. He stressed that the government will provide support so they can feel safe and secure in a country far away from their home.
Hayashi said a government plane will take them from Poland to Japan, and the flight is scheduled to arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport before noon on Tuesday.
The 20 people will complete quarantine and immigration procedures at the airport, then head to their destinations in Japan.
The Japanese government plans to work with private companies and municipal governments to offer assistance for Ukrainian evacuees.