Establishment of an Ad hoc Office of the Japanese Embassy in Banda Aceh, Indonesia

January 21, 2005

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to establish an ad hoc office of the Japanese Embassy in early February at the earliest in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, which was hardest hit by the major earthquake off the coast of Sumatra and the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, in order to conduct liaison, coordination, and other activities of assistance for the victims. This is in preparation for the arrival of the main group of a unit of the Ground Self Defense Force which will arrive at Banda Aceh in the week of January 24.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already been dispatching several officials to Banda Aceh to assist Japan's emergency relief teams and do other work. The establishment of the ad hoc office is intended to make the acceptance of the GSDF unit doubly sure and implement Japan's assistance more smoothly and effectively, by, for instance, coordinating with the emergency headquarters in Banda Aceh of the Indonesian Government, other countries, international organizations, etc.

(END)