Japan’s foreign minister flies home 20 Ukrainian evacuees

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Twenty Ukrainian evacuees were flown to Japan from Poland as part of Tokyo’s humanitarian relief for war-wracked Ukraine.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi returned home on Tuesday after his five-day trip to Poland to express Tokyo’s support and solidarity with the Polish and Ukrainians amid Russia’s war.

A charter flight flew the Ukrainians from Warsaw, Kyodo News reported.

Tokyo will provide support to the Ukrainians, in the age group of 6 to 66, for around six months which includes housing, employment and language lessons.

On his visit to Poland, Hayashi visited a refugee center and a border checkpoint besides Japan’s temporary liaison office in the southeastern city of Rzeszow.

Russia’s war against Ukraine, which started on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the European Union, US and UK, among others, implementing tough sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,430 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,097 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4.21 million Ukrainians have also fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.

Poland has received the largest refugee influx from Ukraine.

Earlier, Japan registered more than 50 fleeing Ukrainians who will be granted short-term residency for 90 days which later will be changed to “designated activities” status for one year under which they are permitted to work.

Japan has also dispatched humanitarian aid worth $200 million to Ukraine over the last few weeks.