1. Following
the UN Security Council resolution 1483, the Government
of Japan, at its Cabinet Meeting on July 4 (Fri),
decided to provide airlift services by Japan Self
Defense Forces (JSDF) aircraft (C-130H) between
the countries neighboring Iraq (Jordan (Amman)
and other places) and Europe for humanitarian relief
items offered by the UN and other organizations,
to cooperate in accordance with the International
Peace Cooperation Law.
2. UN
organizations and NGOs are now conducting humanitarian
relief operations for those affected in connection
with the situation in Iraq, and the WFP plays
a coordinating role in transportation assistance,
especially in air transport. In
response to requests from various UN organizations
including the UNICEF and the WHO, the WFP is
providing airlift services between Europe (UN
Logistics Base in Italy (Brindisi) and other
places) and Iraq and its neighboring countries
(Amman and other places) to airlift humanitarian
relief items such as medicines, plastic tanks,
tents, and other goods, as well as IT-related
and other logistical equipment.
3. Under
such circumstances, the WFP requested the Government
of Japan to provide airlift services between
Amman and Europe amongst other routes, for more
effective airlifting operations.
4. Based
on the cabinet decision concerning this assistance,
necessary preparations are currently under way
to start the operations in mid-July.
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