Implementation of International Peace Cooperation Assignment for the Humanitarian Relief Operation for East Timorese Displaced Persons

November 19, 1999

1. In response to a request from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Government of Japan decided on November 19 (Fri) to provide the airlift services by Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) transport planes between Surabaya (Java Island) and Kupang (West Timor) for UNHCR's humanitarian relief items which will be used for East Timorese displaced persons in West Timor, in accordance with the International Peace Cooperation Law.
   
   
2. The advance team of the SDF and the liaison officials in charge of coordination in relation to the UNHCR and others will leave for the Republic of Indonesia on November 22, while the main unit of the SDF will leave on November 24 to conduct the above-mentioned operation in the country (by schedule, the period of the dispatch will be until February 21, 2000). The scale of the Corps is as follows:
   

   Air Self-Defense Force unit	150 persons
   liaison officers	6 persons
   aircraft	4 transport planes ( C-130H)
   and 1 multi-purpose assistance plane (U-4)

   
   
3. In East Timor, since the direct ballot in August this year, there has been a great deal of gunfire, murder, arson, and other violent acts which caused extreme social upheaval and generated many displaced persons, a number of whom fled into West Timor. The living conditions of these displaced persons have now become critical from a humanitarian viewpoint.
   
   
4. While international humanitarian organizations are working together to assist the displaced persons in West Timor, Japan intends to proactively assist these activities. Japan has already decided to contribute a total of two million dollars to the activities of the UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) and in response to a request from the UNHCR, has extended material grant assistance under the Humanitarian Relief Stockpile Supply System. Japan will also positively study the possibility of further humanitarian assistance, taking into consideration the United Nations consolidated appeal issued on October 27.
   
   

Related Information (Timor-Leste Situation (Archives))