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Iraq

Japanese response team prepares for Iraq deployment

by Omar Valdimarsson in Tokyo
A Japanese Red Cross (JRCS) Emergency Response Unit with expertise in delivering basic health care is awaiting customs clearance at Tokyo's Narita airport before being deployed to the Federation's Iraq operation.

It is one 17 ERUs on standby around the world, ready to be sent to the Middle East should the humanitarian situation provoked by the conflict in Iraq deteriorate. Others are provided by the Red Cross Societies in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

ERUs play a central role in the Federation's response to disasters. Each consists of a team of pre-trained volunteers with expertise in a particular specialised field - basic health care, logistics, water and sanitation, referral hospital facilities or telecommunications.

The Japanese Red Cross has two basic health care ERUs - the one now in Tokyo and another one kept in Norway. It is in the process of setting up the first of two telecommunications units as well. The society has gained valuable experience in the designing and running of Emergency Response Units in recent years, particularly in the operation following the 2001 Gujarat earthquake in India.

The Japanese Red Cross has played a significant role in the international activities of the Red Cross/Red Crescent in recent years, and is now aiming to increase its participation, says Kentaro Nagazumi, deputy director of JRCS's international relief division.

As the only producer of blood and blood products Japan, the society's 76 blood centres are exempt from consumption tax. In return, the JRCS needs to provide services that others cannot.

The society's medical division is now looking for ways to utilize the highly skilled staff of selected JRCS hospitals in international operations. Four out of 93 JRCS hospitals are being given international responsibilities, such as taking part in international relief operations and research, the development of handbooks and manuals and so forth.

"We are currently developing the tools and capacity that will allow us to participate more in international operations and activities," Nagazumi says. "At the same time we are aiming to raise our profile at home. The general public is the main funding source for our international work, through our cooperation with NHK."

The JRCS's annual appeal on NHK, the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), brings in up to US$ 7 million, of which two-thirds goes towards relief work and the rest to developmental activities.