Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team to the Earthquake Disaster in Sichuan Province and Return of Japan Disaster Relief Rescue Team to Japan

May 20, 2008

The Government of Japan decided: the Japan Disaster Relief Rescue Team which had assisted in search and rescue relief operations in the earthquake affected areas since May 16 would finish its operations after consultations with the Government of the People’s Republic of China; the team would return to Japan on May 21; a Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team would be dispatched to Chengdu this afternoon in response to a request from China.
The medical team will depart from Narita International Airport at 18:25 on May 20 by charter flight, and arrive at Chengdu in the evening of the same day. The rescue team will take the same flight on the way back to Japan departing from Chengdu at 01:50 on May 21 (local time) and arriving at 07:20 on May 21 (Japan time).

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