Japan is sending troops and medical staff to Phuket to help search for missing people and offer aid to survivors of Sunday's massive earthquake and tsunami, government officials said Tuesday.

The Thai government requested the SDF dispatch, they added.

Japan has also pledged 3.1 billion yen in aid to the stricken countries, including an initial disbursement of 300 million yen to Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura made a formal request to the Defense Ministry to deploy the SDF troops, based on the Japan Disaster Relief Team dispatch law.

Defense Agency Director-General Yoshinori Ono Tuesday ordered three ships returning to Japan from the Indian Ocean to head for the Thai resort island.

The two Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers and a supply vessel had been in the Indian Ocean assisting the U.S.-led anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan.

The Kirishima, an Aegis-equipped destroyer, the Takanami destroyer and the Hamana support vessel were in waters near Singapore when the order to redeploy arrived. They will be in place near Phuket for search and rescue activities with a helicopter by Wednesday.

``The SDF are now standing by to swiftly take part in an international disaster relief action. We expect to assist in search and rescue, medical services and epidemic control activities. Our troops are preparing to leave immediately,'' Defense Agency chief Ono said.

The Foreign Ministry will offer funds of $1.5 million (157.5 million yen) to Indonesia; $1 million to Sri Lanka; and $500,000 to the Maldives. The money will pay for relief supplies and medicine.

The government will continue to respond to requests for financial aid.

The Foreign Ministry emergency team, headed by Machimura, met Tuesday to send emergency supplies to disaster-hit countries. The Maldives will be receiving 9.7 million yen in tents, blankets and power generators; Sri Lanka, supplies worth 14.7 million yen; and Indonesia, supplies worth 26 million yen.(IHT/Asahi: December 29,2004)