Cabinet OKs plan to dispatch SDF to Haiti

Saturday 06th February, 03:57 AM JST

TOKYO —

The cabinet endorsed on Friday a specific plan for Japan’s dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to quake-hit Haiti to engage in U.N. peacekeeping operations, preparing the way for some 160 SDF members to depart for the Caribbean nation on Saturday.

Under the plan, a 350-member unit will engage in the U.N. mission on a steady basis until Nov 30. The unit consists mainly of SDF engineers who will help in reconstruction work in the quake-devastated country, and includes three civilians who will examine the quake resistance of buildings.

› Login to comment

14 Comments

nylex4 at 09:31 AM JST - 6th February

the earthquake was over 3 weeks ago - why has it taken this long to merely endorse a plan to assist?
chubu at 09:34 AM JST - 6th February

too little, too late. But this is about how fast the government reacted in the Hanshin earthquake, so maybe it's all part of the drill (step 1: wait and do nothing)
OssanAmerica at 09:38 AM JST - 6th February

the earthquake was over 3 weeks ago - why has it taken this long to >merely endorse a plan to assist?

Cause the UN is in charge.
aizoyurei at 09:56 AM JST - 6th February

chubu: took the words right out of my mouth
wawawasuremono at 10:17 AM JST - 6th February

too little, too late. But this is about how fast the government reacted in the Hanshin earthquake, so maybe it's all part of the drill (step 1: wait and do nothing)

It would be more embarassing if the Yakuza had any interest in Port-Au-Prince, they'll be the first Japanese to send aid there. I could imagine the barebacks coated in glorious patterns of dragon scales and cherry blossoms of the sweating goons lifting rubble.
bamboohat at 10:27 AM JST - 6th February

and includes three civilians who will examine the quake resistance of buildings.

Oh I get it. In case there's an earthquake or something...
gyouza at 01:23 PM JST - 6th February

Before criticising this as being late, understand that there are many teams on the ground that are actually close to being idle. Not that they are unaware of what to do, but the coordination is so difficult that it has been a logistical nightmare. Japan was right to wait to send support, and can now target rebuilding efforts -effectively-! I hope they can help build Haiti into a better place than it was.
Kapuna at 02:21 PM JST - 6th February

Better late than never.
Badge213 at 02:45 PM JST - 6th February

Christ Japan can't seem to get a break from anyone on this board for anything.

-The UN is in charge and Japan is sending a Peace keeping mission. -What about the other countries in Asia doing peace keeping missions in Haiti? -Japan already is one of the worlds largest donaters to the World Food Program, and through the WFP food is getting to the people of Haiti. -Some seem to can't get around the fact that the entire country is destroyed and it's going to take more then 3 weeks to rebuild and support it. It is a long term effort, and Japan is doing it's part even though it is half way around the world. -The article is about a unit mainly of engineers to help in reconstruction work, not rescue missions, which Japan had already dispatched civilian and military teams in the past.
wawawasuremono at 05:56 PM JST - 6th February

Christ Japan can't seem to get a break from anyone on this board for anything.

-The UN is in charge and Japan is sending a Peace keeping mission. -What about the other countries in Asia doing peace keeping missions in Haiti? -Japan already is one of the worlds largest donaters to the World Food Program, and through the WFP food is getting to the people of Haiti. -Some seem to can't get around the fact that the entire country is destroyed and it's going to take more then 3 weeks to rebuild and support it. It is a long term effort, and Japan is doing it's part even though it is half way around the world. -The article is about a unit mainly of engineers to help in reconstruction work, not rescue missions, which Japan had already dispatched civilian and military teams in the past.

Despite leeching off Japanese taxpayers, the UN won't amend its charter to remove clauses referring to Japan as the enemy. Neither will it grant a permanent seat on the UNSC. Clearly this is not an organisation that Japanese should practice philanthropy through. Japan ought to have ignored the sloth response of the UN and should've dived into to help if it had learned its lesson from the Hanshin Earthquake.
bushlover at 06:13 PM JST - 6th February

I hope they and the UN have learned something from the UN's experience in Somalia before they go rushing in trying to help the utterly desperate.
spudman at 08:32 PM JST - 6th February

WTH is this UN bashing all about? "The dispatch of the SDF unit is in response to a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted unanimously on Jan 19" so the three weeks was not the UNs doing. As Badger123 says speed isn't the prime need in reconstruction. Good speed folks.