Japanese troops arrive in Haiti to support post-quake reconstruction

Monday 08th February, 02:38 AM JST

PORT-AU-PRINCE —

The first batch of Japanese Self-Defense Force troops arrived in Port-au-Prince on Sunday morning to provide support to Haiti’s reconstruction efforts following a powerful earthquake last month. The group of 34 SDF members is part of a roughly 350-strong international relief team of the Ground Self-Defense Force that will engage in U.N. peacekeeping operations.

About 160 members, chiefly comprising members of the Central Readiness Force, left Japan on Saturday. Following the 34 who arrived Sunday, the remainder are scheduled to come to Haiti from Monday in groups. The other group comprising chiefly of GSDF engineers is slated to arrive between late February and early March, and some 150 heavy machines during March.

This will be the first time for Japan to send a major SDF unit for U.N. peacekeeping operations in Latin America. Japan last dispatched a large peacekeeper contingent for operations in East Timor from 2002 to 2004.

The first group will start clearing land for setting up evacuation tents for quake victims and removing rubble on Sunday at the earliest.

Having arrived on the SDF’s C-130 transport plane via Miami, the troops entered a camp set up inside the U.N. premises with an area of about 30,000 square meters.

‘‘The sincerity and spirit of the Japanese people cannot be matched. We want to do our best for Haiti,’’ Col Masaharu Yamamoto, who heads the first group, said.

The SDF team was dispatched in response to a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted unanimously on Jan. 19, which calls for an increase of 1,500 police and 2,000 troops for the peacekeeping operation, known as MINUSTAH, following the quake. MINUSTAH is the French acronym for the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

During their mission through Nov. 30, the Japanese troops are also expected to repair roads in the capital, form land for shelters and remove rubble from collapsed structures.

They will carry guns for their own protection, but their camp and activities will be guarded primarily by U.N. infantry troops.

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Latest 15 of 30 Total Comments Show All

my2sense at 05:45 PM JST - 8th February

Nice one buddy... the spirit of the Japanese do a lot of...things. Good on you and the 43 lads and a vacation. At least one of you will get robbed...well at least a few before you did. Like my great grandaddy used to say... UN and who?

They will carry guns for their own protection, but their camp and activities will be guarded primarily by U.N. infantry troops.
Heda_Madness at 06:10 PM JST - 8th February

Japan would have been better off getting their in the first 12 hours, rescuing hundreds of people (and possibly bringing some young children home) and then getting out of there ready for the next disaster. What's the point in turning up now and spending nine months or so redeveloping the countries infrastructure etc? Yet another waste of time.
smartacus at 06:20 PM JST - 8th February

Heda Madness

Did you really just say

What's the point in turning up now and spending nine months or so redeveloping the countries infrastructure etc? Yet another waste of time.

Incredible that there are people in the world who think like you do. The GSDF's efforts will make a big difference to the lives of many people.
gyouza at 08:21 PM JST - 8th February

Hot and cold? @Heda Madness - on the other thread ( http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/reporting-from-haiti ) you state:

Interesting that Japan gets hammered for doing something internationally. It's GOOD that Japan is going to Haiti to help out.

Did you have a change of heart on Japan's involvement?
GW at 08:34 PM JST - 8th February

I applaud Jpn helping, albiet slow off the mark.

The thing that Jpn really needs to fix is the need for this:

but their camp and activities will be guarded primarily by U.N. infantry troops.

Jpn you need fix yr damned constitution so you can guard yourselves & not have to hid behind other countries & teh UN`s skirt all the time!!!
Heda_Madness at 08:43 PM JST - 8th February

Smartacus/Gyouza

I said that the Japanese should have got there within 12 hours I 'suggested' they should have brought back some children with them I also said that rebuilding the country was pointless.

I was being very sarcastic, though I do (sadly) think that others would agree with my post.

It's ridiculous to criticse Japan for helping. Yes, they could have got there a day or two after the event (not the same day though) and in fact some medical teams WERE there at the start but what the JSDF is going to do now and for the next nine months is invaluable. Something that unfortunately many posters don't see because it's Japanese. Therefore it's wrong.
unscrejects at 09:19 PM JST - 8th February

nisegaijin: What taxes do you have a right to claim about? The money is taken from you under duress - it's not yours anymore.
OssanAmerica at 10:12 PM JST - 8th February

I'd like to hear one good reason why you people like jerseyboy and scotch think that somehow Japan of all countries has some kind of special obligation to be in Haiti first when any idiot looking at a map can see it's a couple hours from the United States and on the other side of planet from Japan. Jaqpan isalready doing more than China and SKorea also on the other side of the planet, but that isn't good enough? Maybe some folks are just J-bashing without any rationale?
OssanAmerica at 10:14 PM JST - 8th February

jerseyboy at 12:56 PM JST - 8th February Scotch -- 100% agree. But don't let OssanAmerica see this. He thinks >Japan's "The check is in the mail" response is the best the world's >second largest economy can do

Second largest economy in the world is China which put up $7 million while Japan put up $70 million. Where are all the Chinese troops to help? Why weren't they there the day after the quake?
gyouza at 10:51 PM JST - 8th February

@Heda Madness - glad to hear. Apologies for misreading.
bokudayo at 11:45 PM JST - 8th February

Is "post-quake" really needed in the title?

Reconstruction is rarely done before something is destroyed...
marcels at 09:51 AM JST - 9th February

Any help they can get just get it, Good on japan for all their generous international aid support...
GW at 11:31 AM JST - 9th February

Ossan,

Chinas economy is big due to its size, as you no doubt know its still a 3rd world/developing country in many ways so I dont think its too much to expect better from Jpn when comparing with China at this point in time
nisegaijin at 05:46 PM JST - 9th February

No taxation without representation. All tax payers in Japan should be able to voice their opinion how taxes are spent. Too bad nobody is really thinking about it. Look: I am paying truckload of taxes and my pension is still in doubt. I don't know if my savings are safe from inflation that government would have to commit to in order to pay back that huge debt. Japan hasn't got their financial house in order and they are wasting billions in aid to other countries? I don't see anything morally correct about this, despite your claim for so-called "moral obligation" I still don't understand what it is and where it ends.

Now, about humanitarian aid. Key word humanitarian. It should be charity and voluntary. Instead we get military invasion from the US and most expensive per capita army in the world go there to build roads! Where is common sense, everyone? If you care so much about Haiti, why don't you go there and help.

All I am saying that any kind of humanitarian action should be done on individual or commercial level. Forced donation through taxes is nothing but socialist wealth distribution.
Scotch at 08:45 AM JST - 12th February

Ossan ..... even the UK have been there for ages. I'm sorry but it doesn't take a week to travel from one side of the globe to the other on a plane and when you are that late you don't declare that you are the most important and hard working people there. You get on with the job and say you're glad you can help. That is the major issue with this. So stop nit picking trying to back up Japan in this. They are late and think they are glorified in being there.