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Foreword

Operation Unified Assistance (OUA):
Turning Military Cooperation into Humanitarian Aid

Japan Helps Tsunami Victims

Asia-Pacific Nations Enhancing Military Support to Humanitarian Operations

Japan Helps Tsunami Victims
By Lt. Col. Akimura Yoshikazu

Lt. Col. Akimura Yoshikazu is assigned to the Foreign Plans and Policies Section, J-5, Joint Staff Office, Japan Defense Agency. His responsibility during tsunami relief efforts was to exchange intelligence and information on Japan’s relief activities and those of other countries with foreign military attachés in Tokyo and JSDF military attachés assigned abroad. He was also in charge of relief activities as a member of the Joint Coordination Center in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

Responding immediately to requests for aid from the governments of Indonesia and Thailand following the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, the Japanese government ordered the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to conduct disaster relief operations. These operations took place from 29 December 2004 to 9 March 2005 and included search and rescue for disaster victims, medical services, epidemic prevention, and transport of relief supplies.

JSDF Relief Operations in Thailand
Following the Thai government’s request for aid, three Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships – Destroyers JDS Kirishima (DDG 147) and JDS Takanami (DD 10) and supply ship JDS Hamana (AOE 424) – sailed to the coast of Phuket, Thailand, to search and rescue victims. Previously, the three ships had been off the coast of Malaysia refueling foreign military ships involved in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan.

Coordinating closely with the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet, the three JMSDF ships with nearly 600 crew members began relief activities, including picking up debris floating on the water, on 29 December. Before completing operations in Thailand on 1 January 2005, the ships had recovered 57 bodies, many of them children, which greatly saddened the JMSDF crews.

JSDF Relief Operations in Indonesia
Following the Indonesian government’s request for aid on 4 January 2005, an advance team of mainly Japan Staff Office members from the Japan Defense Agency, arrived at the Royal Thai Naval Air Base in Utapao, Thailand, on 7 January aboard a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) C-130 aircraft (Airlift Unit).

In Utapao, the team assessed the conditions and the humanitarian needs of the affected areas and established the Joint Coordination Center (JCC). The JCC coordinated closely with the Combined Coordination Center, which facilitated coordination among all the multinational militaries and non-governmental organizations that participated in relief operations.

On 10 January, the JASDF Airlift Unit began airlifting relief goods between Utapao and Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Established by the JSDF, the JCC in Banda Aceh coordinated efforts there, including the later withdrawal of JSDF troops.

On 14 January, a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Emergency Medical Team of nearly 20 members arrived in Banda Aceh aboard a JASDF transport aircraft. There, the team began vaccinations and medical treatments at the airport.

JGSDF Medical and Terminal Airlift Units with three CH-47JA helicopters and two UH-60 helicopters provided the main body of JSDF relief operations. They arrived off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, aboard three JMSDF ships – the destroyer JDS Kurama (DDH 144), the dock landing ship JDS Kunisaki, and the replenishment ship JDS Tokiwa (AOE 423) – and a civilian chartered airplane. While in Indonesia, JGSDF medical personnel treated 6,013 patients, vaccinated 2,277 people, and provided epidemic control covering 133,800 square meters.

Because the tsunami destroyed many highways along the shore, the JGSDF used helicopters and Landing Craft Air Cushion to transport relief supplies to the victims. This was the first time JGSDF helicopters were used overseas.

Conclusion
During relief efforts, six JMSDF ships and 12 JSDF aircraft transported over 200 tons of supplies; more than 2,000 personnel, including 1,600 troops; and 34 vehicles to the stricken areas.

To improve joint operations, the JSDF plans to establish operational systems based on joint operations in 2006. Currently, each JSDF service has its own operational system. This meant that during relief efforts, the JCC lacked authority to command and control the units of each service. Nevertheless, each JCC member accomplished his duty keeping “joint operations” in mind.

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