• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Coalition, Iraqi ministry sign Husseiniya charter

By Sgt. Kevin Bromley
August 9, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 9, 2005) – On Aug. 1 Coalition Forces and members of the Iraqi ministry signed a charter to correct the health and public works crisis in Husseiniya.

The Husseiniya Charter is the first of its kind, detailing projects that will bring storm drainage systems, water-quality improvements, and sewage treatment facilities to the city.

"It is a great project to help the people…we will have healthy water and less disease from the sewage all over the city," said Nanjar Manshed, the Al-Istaklah District Advisory Council Delegate.

Col. David Bishop, commander of 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division; Ayad Al-Safee, Deputy Minister of Technical Affairs for the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works; Nanjar Manshed, Al-Istaklah District Advisory Council Delegate; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were signors of the charter.

Local Iraqi contractors will perform most of the work on these projects providing the additional benefit of employment.

"The widespread use of the local workforce not only adds jobs but helps to spike the economy as wage earners buy goods and services in the area," said Maj. Scott Sill, civil affairs officer for 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

Coalition Forces are involved in the planning and project development stages, but the execution of the plans will be at the directive of the Iraqi government.

"I think this is a tremendous project for the people of Husseiniya. This is an Iraqi project, the U.S. forces are only providing some funding and oversight," Bishop said.

Husseiniya's programs will serve as the test-bed for other projects in impoverished areas in and around Baghdad.

"What we do and learn here in Husseiniya will be used as a road-map for projects in other towns that desperately need basic essential services such as clean water, air, and waste removal," Sill said.

(Editor’s Note: Sgt. Kevin Bromley, is the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, public affairs officer.)