The Japanese government decided Friday to dispatch two members of the Self-Defense Forces along with an unspecified number of SDF aircraft to Turkey to help in relief operations following the powerful earthquake earlier this week.
The SDF personnel will be tasked with gathering information following Monday's quake and deepening coordination with related organizations on site, the Defense Ministry said, while the aircraft will mainly engage in delivering medical supplies.
Earlier Friday, Japan decided to send a medical team consisting of dozens of personnel to Turkey, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference.
Tokyo will also provide Turkey and neighboring Syria with relief goods such as blankets and tents, the Foreign Ministry said.
The death toll from the earthquake that rocked the two countries has reached more than 22,000, according to local authorities and other sources.
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Turkey, Syria quake death toll tops 21,000 as rescue efforts continue
