In April 2004, a small-town oil terminal worker at Shatt Al-Arab waterway in Basra helped to prevent a massive economic and ecological disaster. Watch this fascinating story of the lives of the men and women who keep Iraq's oil flowing.

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Farouk works on the Basra oil terminal in the Shatt Al-Arab waterway, surrounded by tankers and warships from the US, the UK and Australia. Their job is to guarantee the safety of shipping in the area and to protect Iraq's oil exports.

In April 2004 he was at his post when he heard a huge explosion at a neighbouring oil terminal. Coalition forces rushed towards the blast, leaving the Basra terminal undefended. Suddenly, Farouk noticed a small boat speeding directly towards the terminal - a suicide bomber heading straight for him.

Rashed Radwan's film is about the day a simple worker from an Iraqi village helped to prevent a massive economic and ecological disaster. It is a fascinating human story but also a rare glimpse into the lives of the men who keep Iraq's oil flowing.

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About Al Jazeera - Witness

Rageh Omaar presents Witness, a half-hour daily documentary series which features short, specially commissioned or acquired films gathered from independent filmmakers.
 
Each documentary reveals the unknown lives of ordinary people, following their lives, telling their stories and portraying the challenges that confront them. Our witnesses are people in a situation or those who have observed them first hand.
 
The films cover conflict, belief, the past and the future and as well as bringing new stories to light they showcase the talents of a new breed of multi-skilled, frontline journalist. In the studio, Rageh will further explore the issues raised in the films, with expert guests on the subject matter and the filmmakers themselves.