HAITI: Japanese troops hold traditional prayer service ahead of Haiti reconstruction operation
Record ID:
464885
HAITI: Japanese troops hold traditional prayer service ahead of Haiti reconstruction operation
- Title: HAITI: Japanese troops hold traditional prayer service ahead of Haiti reconstruction operation
- Date: 17th February 2010
- Summary: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (FEBRUARY 16, 2010) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF JAPANESE CAMP VARIOUS OF JAPANESE TROOPS IN CAMP GENERAL VIEW OF HAITIAN, UN AND JAPANESE FLAGS VARIOUS OF TROOPS VARIOUS OF TROOPS TAKING OFF JACKETS VARIOUS OF TROOPS EXERCISING MOVING THE DARUMA DOLL TO THE TABLE SO EACH SOLDIER CAN PAINT CALLS EACH SOLDIER TO PAINT SOLDIER PAINTING DARUMA DOLL SOLDIERS WATCHING TROOPS RAISING DARUMA VARIOUS OF TROOPS GATHERED ONE HOLDING DARUMA DOLL VARIOUS OF TROOPS AND DARUMA DOLL TROOPS LISTENING TROOPS APPLAUDING THE MACHINERY MACHINE WORKING COLONEL YAMAMOTO MASAHARU WATCHING MACHINERY MASAHARU WATCHING MACHINES (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) COLONEL YAMAMOTO MASAHARU SAYING "I know that there are a lot of people living in tent areas who suffered from the earthquake and I want to help these people as much as possible." SOLDIER DRIVING MACHINE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) COLONEL YAMAMOTO MASAHARU SAYING "Under the request of the United Nations, our government decided to send peacekeeping operation units to Haiti." VARIOUS OF TROOPS GATHERED WATCHING MACHINERY
- Embargoed: 4th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Haiti
- Country: Haiti
- Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA7BM21742RPL8UELPES68KAR7C
- Story Text: Japanese defense forces took another step closer to beginning long-awaited work in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday (February 16) as they prepared their heavy machinery.
The day began with a traditional Japanese prayer ceremony featuring the painting of a hollow round doll, known as the Daruma, modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism.
After morning exercises, each soldier was called to the front table to add an additional dab of paint to the Daruma in a demonstration of peace.
Following the ceremony, troops rolled out the heavy machinery which is expected to help clear away rubble and help rebuild areas of Port-au-Prince.
"I know that there are a lot of people living in tent areas who suffered from the earthquake and I want to help these people as much as possible," said Colonel Yamamoto Masaharu.
"Under the request of the United Nations, our government decided to send peacekeeping operation units to Haiti," added Masaharo.
Over the weekend, the defense forces visited sites around Port-au-Prince to assess how best to use the machinery. They made recommendations to MINUSTAH and are currently awaiting a response before they proceed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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