Japan sends 3 helicopters and 600 personnel to aid Kalimantan fires

Japan will deploy the transport ship JS Kunisaki, three CH-47 transport helicopters and about 600 Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel to help respond to forest and land fires in Kalimantan. Japan's Defense Ministry said the deployment was made at the request of the Indonesian government under an international disaster relief mission. The deployment order was issued by Japan Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. According to the Japanese government, the support is in line with an Indonesia-Japan defense cooperation agreement signed in May, which covers humanitarian assistance and disaster operations. So far, Japan has not specified where the helicopters will be stationed or the exact date of their arrival in Indonesia.