1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The
Basic Plan focuses on the following activities
for a period of one year from December 15, 2003
to December 14, 2004:
(i) Medical
Services – Provision of advice and guidance to
Iraqi doctors on maintenance and management of
hospitals and extending medical care to the local
residents.
(ii) Water
Supply – Purification of water from rivers and
other water sources, and distribution for residents
who are in need of daily water supply.
(iii) Rehabilitation
and maintenance of schools and other facilities
– Repairing facilities such as schools, irrigations
channels and roads.
5. 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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