The Japanese authorities flew 20 Ukrainian refugees into Tokyo on Tuesday in a high-profile present of assist for the worldwide effort to assist Ukraine by a rustic that has lengthy been reluctant to soak up foreigners.
The 20 – aged from 6 and 66 and together with 15 ladies – are usually not the primary Ukrainian refugees to reach in Japan since Russia invaded their homeland on Feb. 24 – however they’re the primary to be flown in on a particular authorities airplane on a visit organized by Japan’s overseas minister.
“The government of Japan is committed to provide the maximum support to these 20 Ukrainians to help them live with a sense of peace in Japan, even though they are far away from their home county,” Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi instructed reporters in Poland shortly earlier than he and the refugees set off for Japan.
Hayashi, who had been assessing the refugee scenario in Poland, flew in on a separate flight shortly earlier than the 20 arrived.
National broadcaster NHK confirmed their arrival in a dwell broadcast.
Their airplane was proven on the tarmac whereas the 20 underwent Covid-19 exams on board, NHK stated.
Ethnically homogeneous Japan has lengthy been cautious of overseas migrants regardless of an ageing inhabitants and a continual labour scarcity however opinion polls present a overwhelming majority of Japanese assist giving sanctuary to Ukrainians.
The 20 are becoming a member of almost 400 different Ukrainian refugees who’ve arrived for the reason that Russian invasion.
In 2020, the world’s third-largest economic system it accepted simply 47 refugees and admitted 44 others “for humanitarian reasons” – about 1% of complete functions.
Staunch US ally Japan has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and utilized numerous sanctions.
Most of the Ukrainians are coming into Japan on a 90-day visa which they will then convert to a particular one-year visa that can enable them to work.
Government officers didn’t say why the 20 have been chosen for the particular flight, citing privateness issues.
The authorities had not stated if it undertake extra such flight for Ukrainian refugees.
