TOKYO, Feb 7 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Japan sent about 160 members of its Self Defense Forces to Haiti Saturday, to whom Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama asked to prove this country is committed to safe lives.

The group will join the UN forces in the Caribbean nation which capital Port au Prince and other neighbouring cities were devastated by the Jan 12 earthquake.

The group will also take part in reconstruction activities, including collection of rubbles and repairing of roads, sources reported.

Hatoyama called the brigade to put into practice what they have learnt in similar situation like the one of Hanshin quake (1995) and Niigata Chuetsu (2004) in Japan.

The troops are part of a 360 members’ contingent that will be involved in that mission until November; the last group will join this forces next month.

Haiti earthquake left 200,000 deaths while homeless people exceeded one million. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA

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