Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Japan to spend 1.7 bln yen on SDF operation in Iraq
The Japanese government will spend 1.7 billion yen (16 million US dollars) on the Self-Defense Forces' humanitarian operation in Iraq, Kyodo News reported Tuesday.
The Japanese government will spend 1.7 billion yen (16 million US dollars) on the Self-Defense Forces' humanitarian operation in Iraq, Kyodo News reported Tuesday.
Among the fund, some 1.36 billion yen (12 million dollars) willbe allotted to the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), with the rest going to the air and maritime forces, Kyodo said.
Japan has sent the advance GSDF troops and main air force unit to Iraq and Kuwait. Orders for the departure of the core GSDF troops and maritime force were issued Monday. They are expected toset out early February. The Iraq operation is scheduled to conclude by the end of this year.
The money will be used for troop allowances and the cost of food and fuel as well as maintaining equipment, according to Kyodo.
Japan has promised a package of around 5 billion dollars in aidfor several years ahead.
Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba told a parliament committee the same day that Japan is ready to pay reparations to Iraqis if they are mistakenly killed or injured by the SDF troops, Kyodo reported.