Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi announced on Thursday that two transport aircraft would be dispatched to assist disaster-hit Tonga with drinking water and scheduled to arrive in the country on Friday.

A cargo ship will also be dispatched to Tonga in the near future to deliver large supplies with equipment for volcanic ash removal and two transport helicopters.

Earlier, the Japanese government said on Wednesday that it planned to provide more than $1 million in emergency funding assistance.