Japanese troops inaugurate water treatment project

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST 1. Japanese military vehicle entering Rumaitha water treatment project 2. Japanese troops at the project yard 3. Sign reading ''Rumaitha water treatment project'' 4. Iraqi officials and Japanese troops walking at the site 5. Governor of Muthana (Samawah) province Mohammed Ali al-Hasani and Japanese military commander Tachibana cutting ribbon marking the inauguration of the project 6. Officials walking 7. Zoom out, the two officials pressing button, inaugurating the water project, water flowing from pipe 8. Officials drinking water 9. Various water pipes 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Colonel Tachibana, Japanese military commander: ''Water treatment plant that has been rehabilitated, has already finished and this project has just finished and we are just starting the rehabilitation of a new water treatment." 12. Iraqi official giving a gift to Japanese commander and shaking hands 13. Both Iraqi and Japanese officials taking photos STORYLINE Japanese troops in Iraq on Tuesday inaugurated a new water treatment project in the town of Rumaitha, 25 kilometres (16 miles) north of Samawah. At the ceremony, the Governor of Muthana (Samawah) province, Mohammed Ali al-Hasani, and Japanese military commander Tachibana cut a ribbon to mark the launch of the project. Samawah province is 240 kilometres (149 miles) south of Baghdad. The two officials then toured the site before pressing a button to start the water flow. To demonstrate the safety of the new project, the two officials drank a sample of the refined water. According to Iraqi officials, the plant now pumps 8,000 litres daily - twice its normal capacity. The water treatment project feeds most of the Samawah province districts. Japan has approximately 600 troops stationed in Iraq. It is the first major operation for Japanese troops outside their homeland since the end of World War II. The soldiers have been involved in a series reconstruction efforts since arriving in the area in January 2004, including paving roads, rehabilitating schools and providing hospitals with medical supplies and appliances. Despite their non-combat role, the decision to send troops was a controversial one in Japan. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/de65bb38f98b5487b0e35dc4955da3d2 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork