The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is planning to send a three-member expert team to help search Indonesian nationals who have gone missing after a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated northeast Japan last Friday.
"The team of three people will leave for Japan on Thursday night to assist the Indonesian embassy in Japan in its search for the Indonesian nationals who are still missing," PMI Chairman M Jusuf Kalla said after receiving honorary doctorate from the University of Indonesian Education (UPI) here on Thursday.
In addition, the team would also look into the possibility of Indonesia sending other types of relief aid to Japan which had so far imposed tight security requirements on any relief aid, he said. It was not easy for Indonesian volunteers to carry out their duties in Japan in the winter without adequate instrument and language skill.
"Japan imposes very tight requirements in this respect. Only three countries which have signed agreements with Japan can send their volunteers there. They are the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. The others are denied entry into Japan. We can send relief aid through people-to-people cooperation," he said.
Asked how long the team called "family link" would stay in Japan, he said it would depend on how long the missing Indonesian citizens would be found. Three were three systems and mechanisms developed by the Indonesian Red Cross to find missing citizens by among others contacting their relatives and searching them in command posts.
"Our embassy has tried to find them in command posts," he said.
Earlier, Kalla who was formerly the Indonesian vice president said PMI had prepared relief aid for Japanese quake and tsunami victims, including instant noodle and milk. He said PMI would also send a team of 20 volunteers consisting of medical workers and doctors to Japan.
"Soon after Japan opens its door for relief aid we will send the assistance to the country," he said.
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