RI disaster relief team to head to Japan on Thursday

The Indonesian Government has announced plans to send a team to Japan on Thursday to help the latter cope with the aftermath of last week's massive earthquake and tsunami that left thousands dead and caused large-scale destruction.

Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had ordered the move.

“The Japanese government has opened its doors to Indonesian volunteers. So President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono instructed the team to fly there right away,” Sutopo said Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.

The team comprises members from the BNPB, the Indonesian Red Cross, the military (TNI), the Health Ministry and several other related institutions. Medical workers as well as search and rescue workers are included in the list.

“In the first phase, 60 trained members of the Quick Response Team to Manage Disasters will be dispatched and we hope that they will leave for Japan on Thursday morning,” Sutopo said.

He added that the team from Indonesia would join other volunteers from 69 countries working to provide disaster relief for the stricken nation.