A NORTH Yorkshire rescue expert has hit out at the Government over its handling of a mission to disaster-stricken Japan.

Julie Ryan, 44, of Welburn, near Malton, was part of a team of 12 International Rescue Corps workers who flew out to Japan on Sunday to carry out a needs assessment in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

She said they were requested to undertake the work by the Japanese Government, but she said that on arrival in Tokyo on Monday, the British Embassy refused to hand over paperwork confirming they were a bona-fide aid organisation.

Ms Ryan, a manager at NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “The British Embassy refused point-blank to issue the permit we needed and said we were there as an independent organisation, but all we needed was that proof to say they would vouch for us.”

After 36 hours stuck at the airport, the team caught a flight back to the UK, but frustratingly, after they were in the air they were told the permit had been granted.

The team were in Japan to carry out preparatory work for an aid mission which included highlighting where food and shelters were most needed so that the UN could distribute aid to the right places.

Ms Ryan said the team, led by Ray Gray from Beverley, had enough provisions for 15 days and water purification equipment. They had detailed maps of the area and were in touch with an interpreter at the airport.

Problems arose when they needed a permit from the Japanese Government to get transport and fuel for which they required the British Embassy to vouch for them.

Ms Ryan said: “We were really quite surprised that they would put obstacles in our way. We have been doing these sort of missions for 30 years now and it’s not as if we don’t know what we’re doing.

“We were angry and upset, but in all this it’s important to remember that the real problem is the people suffering in Japan.”

Ms Ryan said there was no prospect of the party going back out to Japan as their mission has been superseded by events at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the team had nobody but themselves to blame.

He said problems were caused because the group had “no transport or logistical or language support” in place.

Mr Hague added that it was “convenient” for the team to blame the aborted mission on red tape.