A U.S. Army pilot shuts the door to a UH-60 Black Hawk at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 3, 2019. (Brieana Bolfing/U.S. Air Force)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Army helicopters will deliver supplies to an earthquake-devastated area of central Japan, the U.S. military said Tuesday, less than a week after Tokyo announced it was not accepting help from other nations.
Following a “formal request for support,” two UH-60 Black Hawks from U.S. Army Aviation Battalion Japan will join the relief efforts, U.S. Forces Japan announced in a statement.
The quake collapsed buildings, shredded highways and, as of Tuesday, had killed 220 people in towns and villages on the Noto Peninsula, according to Japanese media reports.
U.S. forces readied logistical support, food and other supplies for the victims, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel wrote Jan. 5 on X, formerly Twitter. He said U.S. helicopters would help move resources to and from the disaster zone, according a report by Kyodo News the previous day.
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo announced a $100,000 aid package Jan. 5 that includes essential resources such as blankets, water, and medical supplies through Pace Winds Japan, a nongovernmental organization.
However, the country was not accepting assistance from other nations last week, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told Stars and Stripes on Thursday.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said the U.S. military was asked to help deliver aid so the Japan Self-Defense Forces could focus on evacuations.
“From Wednesday, Jan. 17, on, the U.S. forces in Japan plan to transport relief goods to Noto airport with UH-60 helicopters for disaster victims, while using the Air Self-Defense Force’s Komatsu base as headquarters,” he told reporters Tuesday.
The U.S. is “eager and proud” to assist, USFJ’s commander, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, said in the statement.
“This operation is a clear demonstration of U.S. commitment to our Ally Japan, and America’s compassion to the people of Japan recovering from this natural disaster,” he said.
Support missions will continue as future needs are assessed by the Japanese military, the statement added.
Japanese citizens’ pleas for U.S. support in the disaster’s aftermath appeared last week on X.
“I clearly remember the U.S. helicopters flying around finding areas that were isolated without assistance and bringing aid during Operation Tomodachi during the Great East Japan Earthquake, but why can’t they do it this time?” @jirosukyHDD wrote Jan. 8 in Japanese.
Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
