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NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS 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: 03-05-16


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION EFFORTS AID IRAQ'S RECOVERY

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - Coalition forces continue to assist in developing a safe and secure environment in Iraq. Among recent developments:

.Coalition engineers continue to assess and make recommendations for the repair of power, water and sanitation facilities damaged during Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as repair to those that had fallen into disrepair before the operation.

.U.S. Army V Corps continues to remove stockpiled Iraqi ammunition from sites in Baghdad to prevent illegal use and black marketing. Over 150 truckloads of ammunition have been removed to secure coalition military sites outside of Baghdad where the ammunition is examined for serviceability. Unserviceable ammunition is destroyed, while the rest is held in reserve for training of the future Iraqi military.

.In Safwan, five out of 14 schools have reopened, while in Al Zabayr, 48 of 60 schools have reopened.

.The Kirkuk Government Building formally re-opened May 4, a significant milestone toward establishing civilian governence.

.All five hospitals in An Najaf are now operational and accepting patients. Each hospital has its own functioning ambulance service.

.Power has been restored to residents and businesses at pre-war levels or higher in nine of 27 key cities. All 18 hydroelectric power plants in Iraq are producing power at levels 80 percent or better than pre-war levels. In Ar Rutbah, Coalition engineers have restored the flow of power to the city from the Haditha Dam.

.Water supply is at or above pre-war levels in 14 of the 27 key cities. Military Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units and wells now supplement Iraqi supplies by producing more than 300,000 liters of potable water daily.

.Phone service between Basrah and Amarah has been reestablished.

.Order is being restored throughout the country with 19 of 27 cities now considered permissive. Police forces are operational in many cities, with joint Iraqi/Coalition Forces Police patrols successfully maintaining civil order. Fire departments are again operational in many cities. Several cities have freely elected town councils and mayors. Security provided by Coalition forces has allowed the U.N. international offices to relocate to Baghdad. Coalition forces, Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance and Iraqis are working together to re-establish a viable legal/judicial system.

.Another 250 Iraqi soldiers captured during Operation Iraqi Freedom were released after accepting parole. To date 3,426 have been paroled. Additionally, 3,217 have been released after determining they were noncombatants. Currently, approximately 2,600 enemy prisoners of war are being detained by the Coalition.