SDF aircraft to send supplies to Ukrainians fleeing country

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
Self-Defense Force personnel load defense equipment aboard a transport aircraft at the Air Self-Defense Force’s Komaki Base in Aichi Prefecture on March 8.

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The government adopted a plan on Thursday to send humanitarian supplies for Ukrainians fleeing their home country, using Self-Defense Forces aircraft.

SDF aircraft will load supplies such as blankets and deliver them to Poland and Romania once a week.

The delivery comes at the request of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and is based on the law for cooperation with U.N. peacekeeping operations.

Japan initially planned to pick up supplies in India as well, but the move was refused by the Indian government.