NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
May 5, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 5TH ASSOCIATED PRESS POOL REPORT NUMBER FIVE
POOL NOTES No. 5
From reporter Charles J. Hanley, The Associated Press
5-5-03 4 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) Monday:
Tour of Basra General Hospital
Garner and his team visited several wards in the hospital and saw a poorly supplied, ill-kept institution.
"We will bring in quick cash in to make a quick difference," said Garner's deputy, British Maj. Gen. Tim Cross. He stressed, however, that this would not be a long-term commitment to rebuild the Iraqi health-care system.
The newly named regional coordinator, Danish Ambassador Ole Wohlers Olsen, said he planned to return from Baghdad on Friday to Basra with cash that could be used to pay doctors' salaries and other commitments.
During Garner's hospital tour, a woman rushed up, shouting to him in Arabic and demanding compensation for injuries suffered by her son when he was struck by a British military vehicle.
Many of the beds were without bedding or had filthy bedding.
After bidding Garner farewell, the hospital director, Mustafa Ali, said the visitors had promised help with security, equipment and drugs.
"We hope all they have promised will be OK," Dr. Ali said.
From the hospital, Garner's entourage drove to the Shueiba oil refinery, Iraq's second-largest. The general manager, Taha Ibrahim, told reporters the refinery had resumed operations Thursday and is now refining 70,000 barrels of oil a day, producing liquid petroleum gas, diesel oil, kerosene and gasoline.
He said the site has a capacity to refine 180,000 barrels per day, and he expects to reach that production in a matter of weeks or months, though he said the refinery could use some spare parts to ensure full production.
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