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Press Release

Japan Announces the Implementation Guideline for Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq

On Thursday December 18, the Government of Japan announced the implementation guideline for Japan's measures on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq. Japan will dispatch Self-Defense Forces personnel to areas around As Samawah in the Governorate of Al Muthanna, airport facilities in Basrah, Baghdad, Balad and Mosul, and port facilities in Umm Qasr. The SDF personnel, while working closely with the local community, will provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, including medical services, water supply, rehabilitation and maintenance of utilities and transportation of materials. The SDF will exclude weapons and ammunition from transportation of goods. The specific timing of the dispatch will be announced at a later date, after further assessment of the security situation.

The areas where the SDF personnel will be conducting humanitarian and reconstruction assistance will be limited to areas where combat is not taking place. The activities will be carried out in the Governorate of Al Muthanna in Southeastern Iraq, centering around As Samawah. In order to facilitate transportation of relief materials and other support activities, the SDF personnel will also be in locations in Kuwait used for transportation of personnel and materials, airport facilities in Basrah, Baghdad, Balad and Mosul, and port facilities in Umm Qasr.

As mentioned in the Basic Plan regarding the measures based on the Law Concerning the Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq, which was approved on December 9, the Self-Defense Forces personnel who will carry out the activities of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance will not use force nor will be dispatched to areas where combat is taking place, and they are not allowed to use their weapons except in the case of self-defense.

The Basic Plan focuses on the following activities for a period of one year from December 15, 2003 to December 14, 2004:

  1. Medical services - Provision of advice and guidance to Iraqi doctors on maintenance and management of hospitals and extending medical care to the local residents.
  2. Water supply - Purification of water from rivers and other water sources, and distribution for residents who are in need of daily water supply.
  3. Rehabilitation and maintenance of schools and other facilities - Repairing facilities such as schools, irrigation channels and roads.

In order to carry out these activities, the SDF personnel will utilize the following equipments. The Ground SDF personnel shall be equipped with bulldozers, roadrollers, water-tankers, and others. The Air SDF will carry out the activities by C-130 transport aircrafts, U-4 and B-747 Government Aircraft. For ensuring security, the personnel will carry necessary weapons. The Maritime SDF, which will transport the personnel, will utilize transport ships or minesweeper and destroyers.

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