Attending a Pray for Japan ceremony at a private university in Jakarta Thursday night, he said the volunteers departed by a regular Garuda flight because it would be more practical by joining other passengers.
"Now there are another 54 SAR members who will be sent by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency to Japan with special skills badly needed by quake and tsunami victims," he said.
On Friday (Mar 8) another five volunteers will be leaving for Japan joining their 11 colleagues.
The 11 volunteers have special medical and construction skills, including military members, doctors and other civilians.
The volunteers will be on duty for 14 days in the initial phase, and in Japan will be coordinating with embassies in that country for efficiency`s sake.
Japanese ambassador Kojiro Shiojiri on the sidelines Praying for Japan said help from the international world was very needed, especially those with special skills.
He, in the company of his wife, expressed his deepest appreciation to the volunteers for their unselfish help sent by the Indonesian government to Japan and for the nearly two million US dollars from the Indonesian government. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
